Scarlet Sunrise: Ohio State posts highest multi-year academic progress rate in school history

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

Ohio State posts highest multi-year academic progress rate in school history

Ohio State Athletics, as a whole, recorded its highest cross-sport, multi-year academic progress rate (APR) in school history, according to data released by the NCAA. And, more specifically, Ohio State football posted its highest multi-year APR.

An APR score tracks the academic progress of student-athletes on scholarship and thereby measures the academic success of each team. This is the 19th year of APR data for most teams, and the newest data is based on a multi-year rate that averages APR scores from the academic years of 2018-19 through 2021-22.

“The APR is designed to measure whether student-athletes are maintaining eligibility and are being retained by the institution,” said John Davidson, Ohio State Faculty Athletics Representative, in a university release Tuesday. “This year’s APR release shows that Ohio State continues to perform very well and, in fact, keeps getting better. Achieving a multi-year score of 993 – the highest in our institution’s history — reflects a culture consistently aiming to improve all aspects of the student-athlete experience.”

The football program’s multi-year rate was also 993. To put that in perspective, 26 of the 31 Ohio State varsity sports teams logged scores higher than 990. Ohio State’s single-year APR for 2021-22 was 988, but 17 teams notched perfect scores of 1,000 that year, including football and men’s basketball.

Setting realistic expectations for Buckeyes spring transfer additions

Ohio State added a pair of transfers in the spring window: Notre Dame athlete Lorenzo Styles Jr. and San Diego State offensive tackle Josh Simmons.

Styles, the older brother of current Buckeyes safety Sonny Styles and the son of former Buckeyes linebacker Lorenzo Styles Sr., comes to Columbus after spending the last two seasons as a wide receiver for the Fighting Irish. He made the switch to cornerback earlier this offseason, and that’s the position he’s poised to play at Ohio State. Simmons, meanwhile, is making the cross-country move after starting last season at right tackle as a redshirt freshman for San Diego State.

What’s a realistic outlook for each of them next season? What role might they serve?

Lettermen Row explores here.

‘This is what I wanted’: Paris Johnson Jr. inspired to carry on family legacy with Cardinals

Former Ohio State first-team All-American offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. was drafted No. 6 overall by the Arizona Cardinals last week, the same team that selected his father, Paris Johnson Sr., in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft.

Johnson Jr. is open about how he doesn’t currently have a relationship with his father, but he made it clear that he wants to finish what Johnson Sr. “couldn’t” in Arizona.

“Honestly, I didn’t want to say it during the process, but this is what I wanted,” Johnson Jr. said Thursday night in his post-draft press conference. “I wanted to be a Cardinal.

“… I want to finish what [my father] started originally as the original Paris Johnson. So to be able to carry that legacy to the Cardinals is everything.”

For the full story on the start of Johnson Jr.’s Cardinals career, go here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 124 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 208 days

Are you subscribed yet?

Are you ready to get all your latest Ohio State news in one place? Become a member of Lettermen Row today. With your Lettermen Row/On3+ membership, you’ll not only have access to the everything that’s happening with the Buckeyes, but you’ll also be able to peruse other fan sites within the network to hear just how rivals are feeling about Ohio State, as well. Make sure to follow along on Twitter, Instagram and on Youtube for all the latest Buckeyes news you need to know.