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The fifth-year senior will make his first start at center on September 3rd against Bowling Green.

On the heels of Ohio State having J.T. Barrett, Tyquan Lewis, and Raekwon McMillan named to preseason award watch lists yesterday, Pat Elflein was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list earlier today. The Rimington Award, named for former Nebraska center Dave Rimington, is given annually to the best center in college football. The Rimington Award has been given out since 2000, with Ohio State’s LeCharles Bentley being the only Buckeye to take home the award in the past, winning it in 2001. The finalists for the Rimington Award will be announced on December 5th, with the winner being determined by the Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News, and Football Writers Association of America All-American teams being used to determine the winner.

Elflein will be making his first start at center for Ohio State on September 3rd when the Buckeyes open up their 2016 season at Ohio Stadium against Bowling Green. This will mark Elflein’s third season as a starter for the Buckeyes, as he has started 29 games at guard in the previous two seasons for Ohio State. Not only has Elflein already been named a captain for Ohio State’s 2016 season, but he is also a two-time “Iron Buckeye” award winner, which is awarded to six players bi-annually for unquestioned physical training dedication, determination, discipline, toughness, and leadership. The Pickerington native has already been a part of a couple of Ohio State’s best offensive lines in terms of yards per carry average, and hopes to again help the Buckeyes find success on the ground this year.

“I thought we would have a lot of success as a team while I was there. The coaches supported my NCAA and Olympic aspirations and have done everything possible to allow me to reach my goals.”

– Ohio State wrestler Kyle Snyder via Ross Bishoff, The Ohio State University Alumni Association

Kyle Snyder is just 20 years old but he has already accomplished more than most will in a lifetime. Not only is Snyder already a two-time NCAA champion, helping the Buckeyes win the team title in 2015 before winning an individual title in 2016, but he also took home the 2015 heavyweight world title. At just 19 years old, Snyder became the youngest U.S. wrestler ever to win a World Championship. Next month Snyder will be looking to add to his list of achievements in Rio de Janeiro. Snyder became the first active Buckeye wrestler to make an Olympic wrestler team, as he’ll compete at 97 kg (213 lbs).

It has taken plenty of hard work for Snyder to get to where he is today, and it started when he first stepped onto a wrestler mat at five years old. On New Years’ Day 2013, head coach Tom Ryan got a phone call from Snyder, who was in the middle of his junior year at the time. Snyder announced to Ryan his intention to attend Ohio State. At the time Snyder could see that Ohio State was building something as a program, and Snyder has only helped to make the Buckeye wrestling program one of the best in the country. Whether Snyder medals or not in Rio, what he has done during his time with Ohio State has helped immensely in recruiting. Hopefully next month the red, white, and blue can get a little boost from the scarlet and gray.

“I understand everything I’ve been through is going to be worth it when I get that contract. Everything I’ve been through: going overseas and spending time dealing with injuries and setbacks, everything will be worth it. My eyes are still set on that goal and my hope is still in God to get there.”

– Former Ohio State center Dallas Lauderdale via Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

While last week former Buckeyes Evan Turner and Mike Conley signed big money NBA contracts, another former Buckeye is just hoping to sign any NBA contract. Dallas Lauderdale was a three-year starter while at Ohio State, and in 2010 was an all-Big Ten defensive team selection, but he hasn’t been able to make it onto a NBA roster yet. Injuries have been a big reason why Lauderdale hasn’t yet been able to achieve his NBA dreams. In November 2014, Lauderdale had surgery to repair a ruptured posterior tibial tendon, and hasn’t been to play much since then. Lauderdale says there is still interest from NBA teams, but now it comes down to when he is recovered from his injury and able to get back out onto the court.

Even though Lauderdale hasn’t been able to make an impact on the NBA court yet, he certainly has been making an impact on the court for kids in Ohio. Last year Lauderdale started Direction Up, which is a noncompetitive camp, that is designed to uplift as well as teach. So far the camp has been a success, with the most recent installment at Solon High School, Lauderdale’s alma mater, showing a growth of 50 percent. The teaching and uplifting comes naturally to Lauderdale, as he is the product of three generations of preachers. With the success of the camp so far, Lauderdale will hold one-day camp at the TAD Sports facility in Granville on July 23rd. Even if he doesn’t ever realize his NBA dream, Lauderdale can at least know he is doing something important that is having a positive impact.

“The joke when people say they want a job is that they would walk (to it). That’s how I felt about this job. It was opportunity to come home to be a part of a great program, to work for Kevin, who has been successful everywhere he’s been. To have this opportunity is very special to me.”

– New Ohio State women’s basketball assistant coach Carrie Banks via Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State women’s basketball coach Kevin McGuff had an open spot on his staff when assistant coach Joy Cheeks left for Vanderbilt in May. Yesterday McGuff found Cheeks’ replacement, hiring Delaware, Ohio native Carrie Banks. According to McGuff, Banks’ primary area of focus on the court will be with the forwards. Even though she was just hired, Banks is wasting little time trying to make an impact, as she is already out on the road recruiting for the Buckeyes. After losing in the Sweet 16 to Tennessee, expectations are high for the Buckeyes heading into this season, and so far McGuff is pleased with what he has seen from his team this summer.

After playing college basketball at Detroit Mercy, followed by two years playing professionally in Portugal before returning to the United States to join the coaching ranks. Banks not only coached AAU basketball in Ohio, but also was the women’s junior varsity basketball coach at Dublin Jerome from 2004-06 before heading back to her alma mater to become an assistant coach. After leaving Detroit Mercy, Banks was an assistant at South Florida, and spent the last three seasons at Northwestern. While Banks is glad she has been able to travel to the places that she has during her playing and coaching career, she is happy that she can come home and be closer to family.

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