Scarlet Sunrise: Cade Stover playing in the Cotton Bowl to finish what he started

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Cade Stover playing in the Cotton Bowl to finish what he started

Drama and Cade Stover don’t belong in the same sentence. The farm-raised Mansfield, Ohio, native is a straight shooter and a no-nonsense kind of guy.

He didn’t have some big announcement to the team that he’d be playing in the Cotton Bowl. Stover just kept showing up to practice.

That’s not to say it was an easy decision, however. Stover is currently ranked by ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. as the No. 3 tight end prospect in the 2024 draft.

“Just finishing what you started, I guess,” Stover said, when asked Wednesday in AT&T Stadium why he’s playing in the top-10 showdown against No. 9 Missouri.

“There’s a lot of back and forth of what’s smart and what’s not. You got a lot of different opinions, but, then again, at the end of the day, it kind of comes down to what you can morally live with and what you morally stand on. That’s what I felt was the best decision, to be out there with the guys.”

Stover is looking forward to Friday night’s game, but he doesn’t think he’s playing every snap of the game. A two-time captain, he knows it would be unfair to the younger guys on the team if he did.

After all, this is likely Stover’s final game in an Ohio State uniform.

Still, having him out there will be beneficial for new starting quarterback Devin Brown. Stover’s been a safety valve for the Buckeyes’ passing attack this season, recording the second-most receptions (41) and receiving yards (576) on the team.

He’s been reliable, too. Stover has caught 41 of his 51 targets this season without a drop, according to Pro Football Focus. That means he’s tied for 10th nationally in reception percentage (80.4%) among all tight ends with at least 25 targets this year, per PFF.

“Cade, he’s the backbone of this offense at times,” Ohio State offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Brian Hartline said. “He’s tough. He plays tough. He wants his teammates to play tough. He sets that standard offensively. Having Cade in the lineup and playing the way he’s played and as productive as he’s been, how consistent he’s been has been a huge part for our offense.

Hartline added: “It says a lot about what Cade has done in the offseason to prepare for this year. Everyone has seen the growth, and he’s one heck of a player. We’re glad to have him for this bowl game.”

Stover explained that he’s learned significantly more at the position this year after switching back to tight end full-time in 2022.

His linebacker performance in the Rose Bowl at the end of the 2021 season, though, will always stand out to him.

“That’s what really brought me back to feeling like, ‘Hey, you can actually do this,'” he said. “That was a turning point for me.”

But returning to tight end the following spring?

“I think everything happens for a reason,” Stover said. “And, luckily, it did, and somebody was looking out for me somewhere and brought me back over here. It’s been one of the best decisions of my life.”

Brian Hartline reflects on first year as Buckeyes offensive coordinator

Brian Hartline is practically a year into being the Ohio State offensive coordinator. He’s not calling plays for the Buckeyes. Head coach Ryan Day is still the head man in that department.

But Hartline has had to adopt a wider view of the offense this season rather than focusing on his wide receiver room.

“I would say making sure I’m as diverse in my football knowledge and not just a receiver and pass-game guy has naturally been there,” Hartline said. “But demanding myself to be an expert in a different part of the game, you always want to do that. But until you are demanded to do that, it’s a little different, right?

“So I’ve demanded myself to do that. I think that’s grown. My opinions and my feel of why to do things has grown.”

For the full story, go here.

Young Buckeyes wide receivers impressing during bowl practice

All signs are pointing to Marvin Harrison Jr. not playing in the Cotton Bowl. Julian Fleming is in the transfer portal. So Ohio State will likely be without two of its top-three wideouts for its head-to-head with Missouri.

That opens up the window of opportunity for a group of first-year receivers that’s already been knocking on the door.

Carnell Tate is the headliner, but he’s not the only Buckeyes wideout on the rise who could make an impact Friday night in AT&T Stadium.

Check it out here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 338 days

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