<p><i>Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise! Football will always be our focus, but every day weâ€™ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Ohio State football, recruiting, basketball and more.Â </i></p>
<hr />
<h2>Who will help J.K. Dobbins carry rushing load for the Buckeyes?</h2>
<p>There are plenty of more pressing position battles for Ohio State to monitor this spring, and the return of J.K. Dobbins for another season means there is absolutely no uncertainty on top of the depth chart at tailback. Truthfully, the situation at running back might finally be somewhat comfortable for the Buckeyes since they also donâ€™t need to stress about the best way toÂ <a href="https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state-football/ohio-state-jk-dobbins-buckeyes-football-running-back-projection/">share the workload</a>Â between two capable starters â€” something that probably wasnâ€™t handled all that well a year ago.</p>
<p>But the program is going to need to start solidifying a pecking order behind Dobbins. And that could set up one of the more fascinating, under-the-radar competitions in camp when the pads go back on in March.</p>
<p>Lettermen Row senior writer Austin Ward looks at a few possible candidates to fill the void in the Ohio State backfield in <a href="https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state-football/ohio-state-buckeyes-football-jk-dobbins-master-teague/">Friday’s Question of the Day</a>.</p>
<h2>Scouting Report: ‘Freakish’ signee Dawand Jones growing into potential</h2>
<p>It was basketball, always basketball for Dawand Jones.</p>
<p>Even midway through last football season, the Ohio State signee had resolved to play basketball once he graduated from Indianapolisâ€™ Ben Davis High School.</p>
<p>Now that Jones has become the final piece to Ryan Dayâ€™s inauguralÂ <a href="https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state-football/dawand-jones-ohio-state-buckeyes-football-signing-day/">recruiting class</a>, his high school coach indicated those years of basketball can help the mammoth offensive tackleâ€™s next-level transition.</p>
<p>â€œThe basketball has his body trained to play in space, has his body trained to use his length to his advantage,â€ said Ben Davis head coach Jason Simmons. â€œAnd really that quick foot-touch, being able to put his foot in the ground and redirect, heâ€™s going to need that at some point. Whether itâ€™s a pass-rush move up and under, whether itâ€™s a guy thatâ€™s slanting post-snap, heâ€™s going to need those feet in the Big Ten.</p>
<p>â€œBut basketball truly has helped him in terms of playing in space and using his length.â€</p>
<p>Lettermen Row’s John Brice spoke with people close to Jones to provide a full <a href="https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state-football/dawand-jones-ohio-state-buckeyes-football-scouting-report/">scouting report</a> on one of the newest Buckeyes.</p>
<h2>Will Ohio State chase decommitted prospects?</h2>
<p>Recruiting sure is a fun little world, isnâ€™t it? Six months ago, Ohio State had six commitments in the Class of 2020, and if there was prediction which players would be the surest bets to sign,Â <a href="https://247sports.com/player/jake-wray-46036881/">Jake Wray</a>,Â <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Lejond-Cavazos-86707/">Lejond Cavazos</a>Â andÂ <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Darvon-Hubbard-46047275/">Darvon Hubbard</a>Â would almost certainly be near the top of the list.</p>
<p>Wray, the first 2020 commit, is the younger brother of a current Buckeyes lineman. Cavazosâ€™ father, CJ, is a long-time friend of Urban Meyer. And Hubbard is an Akron-native who was playing football in Arizona alongside Ohio State commit Jack Miller â€” and would help keep the quarterback in the fold when the urge to look around eventually hit the rising star.</p>
<p>Welp. Back to the drawing board, huh? Here we are now almost to March, and those three 4-star prospects have all reopened their recruiting process with each claiming that the December retirement of Meyer was the primary motivator for their decision. So, can the Buckeyes earn all three of their pledges again? Birm looks at that probability in <a href="https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state-football-recruiting/ohio-state-buckeyes-recruiting-2020-decommits-jake-wray-lejond-cavazos/">Friday’s Recruiting Question of the Day</a>.</p>
<h2>Men’s hoops faces tough road test at Maryland</h2>
<p>After handling business at home against Northwestern in a <a href="https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state-basketball/ohio-state-buckeyes-basketball-northwestern-wildcats/">must-win game</a>, Ohio State men’s basketball now travels to College ParkÂ to take on No. 24 Maryland on Saturday.</p>
<p>The Buckeyes are still in the NCAA Tournament picture, and they will be even with a loss to the Terrapins, butÂ <a href="https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state-basketball/ohio-state-basketball-ncaa-tournament-odds-bracket-2019/">the formula for a tournament bid</a>Â requires at least one and possibly two more wins down the stretch against non-Northwestern teams, and there are only a few such opportunities left.</p>
<p>Tip offÂ from the Xfinity Center is at 2 p.m.</p>
<h2><strong>Counting down</strong></h2>
<ul>
<li>Ohio State hoops at Maryland: Today</li>
<li>Oho State spring game: 49 days</li>
</ul>
<h2><strong>Sign up for the Scarlet Sunrise newsletter</strong></h2>
<p>If you enjoy the Scarlet Sunrise posts, please consider having our newsletter delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.Â <a href="https://mailchi.mp/3be5960b8040/scarletsunrise">Click here to sign up</a>!</p>


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