The Buckeye Weekly Podcast

Could this be the biggest year ever for Ohio State freshmen?

With the traditional redshirt rule effectively gone, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss how the new “five years to play five” setup could completely change the way the Buckeyes use young players.

Instead of worrying about burning a redshirt year, Ohio State can now get its best freshmen onto the field immediately — especially on special teams. Tony and Tom explain why that matters, how special teams can become a proving ground for bigger offensive and defensive roles, and why more freshmen may have meaningful opportunities than ever before.

They also discuss several first-year Buckeyes already generating buzz, including Jay Timmons, Legend Bey, Chris Henry Jr., Jerquaden Guilford, Khary Wilder, Dre Quinn, and Ohio State’s young defensive tackles.

0:00 — Welcome from Ohio State
0:35 — Why the redshirt change is such a big deal
1:25 — Special teams finally come without a redshirt penalty
2:45 — How special teams can lead to offensive and defensive snaps
4:18 — More games mean more opportunities for freshmen
6:02 — Chris Henry Jr. and Jerquaden Guilford on special teams
7:04 — Jay Timmons continues to generate major buzz
8:10 — Why Timmons looks so advanced for a freshman
8:58 — The NFL bloodlines behind Timmons’ football instincts
10:04 — Legend Bey’s role and return-game potential
11:04 — Why Ohio State may be more aggressive on kickoff returns
12:12 — Which other freshmen could play early?
13:27 — Freshman defensive tackles showing different strengths
14:09 — Final thoughts on Ohio State’s freshman class

Bye bye redshirt rule.

Which Ohio State freshman do you think will make the biggest impact this season?

Subscribe to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, give the video a thumbs up, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss our continuing coverage of Ohio State fall camp.

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New Ohio State offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has spent nearly two decades in the NFL, including a head coaching stint with the Atlanta Falcons and also serving as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers. 

So what has the adjustment to college coaching been like? What is it like coaching a young quarterback like Julian Sayin after working with veterans like Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers? And how challenging is it to ensure your best player is getting the ball as much as possible when that player is a wide receiver?

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear the answers to those questions and many more directly from Arthur Smith.

Matt Patricia's first season as Ohio State Defensive Coordinator could not have gone much better. The Buckeyes finished with one of the most statistically-dominate defenses in not only Buckeye football history, but all of college football. 

Now, comes the hard part. Gone are SAF Caleb Downs, LBs Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, DT Kayden McDonald and a handful of other stars who are now playing on Sundays. So what does Patricia have planned to get his rebuilt defense ready for the season?

In this special bonus episode, you'll hear directly from Patricia about more than a dozen different topics, including how they'll replace those stars, and the benefits of adding some of the veteran transfers they brought in.

The Buckeyes held their first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday. The practice was closed, but we have some intel on what went down, particularly with a trio of freshman standouts. If you want even more, you can find us at BuckeyeInsiders.com where we are talking about the day's action and so much more.

Ohio State is moving Senior Day from the final home game of the season to the home opener against Ball State, marking a major change to a long-running Ohio State tradition.

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss why the Buckeyes may be making the move, how it fits with other recent changes to Michigan Week, and whether Ohio State is trying to make rivalry week feel more like a normal game week.

They also break down the rest of Ohio State’s announced game themes, including Jim Tressel’s Ring of Honor recognition, the helmet stripe game, Hall of Fame weekend, Homecoming, Military Appreciation Day, and where the Buckeyes may wear their alternate uniforms this season.

00:02 — Intro
00:12 — Ohio State announces game themes and real news
00:27 — Senior Day moving to the home opener
01:35 — Why the move may be about normalizing Michigan Week
03:15 — Is Bryce Underwood right about treating rivalry week like any other week?
04:15 — Other examples of early Senior Days
05:46 — Why this is unusual, but not unprecedented
08:14 — Jim Tressel, Ball State, and the rest of Ohio State’s themes
10:44 — Predicting alternate uniform games
12:16 — End zone possibilities and final thoughts
13:20 — BuckeyeInsiders.com and wrap-up

What do you think of Ohio State moving Senior Day away from Michigan Week? Smart move, or a tradition that should have stayed untouched? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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Ohio State is well into fall camp, and the Buckeyes’ offensive depth chart is beginning to take shape.

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr go position by position through the Ohio State offense to break down where things currently stand, from Julian Sayin and the quarterback room to a potentially fascinating battle between Bo Jackson and Isaiah West at running back.

They also discuss how Ohio State could use freshman Legend Bey, Devin McCuin’s rise at wide receiver, where Kyle Parker fits once healthy, how Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd could get onto the field, and the incredible depth the Buckeyes appear to have at tight end.

Then it’s time to sort through the offensive line. Is Ohio State settling in on Ian Moore, Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman, Austin Siereveld and Phillip Daniels as its starting five? And which linemen would be the first off the bench if Ohio State needs to make a change?

Plus, Tony and Tom take a look at the early kicking competition.

0:00 — Breaking down Ohio State’s offensive depth chart
0:19 — Quarterback: Julian Sayin, Tavien St. Clair and the battle for No. 3
1:12 — Running back: Bo Jackson vs. Isaiah West
1:37 — Is Isaiah West going to start the opener?
2:08 — Where does Legend Bey fit?
2:59 — Ja’Kobi Jackson vs. Legend Bey for different roles
3:43 — Why Legend Bey may be his own category
4:34 — Wide receiver: The clear top three
5:16 — Where does Kyle Parker fit after returning?
6:05 — Brock Boyd, Chris Henry Jr. and the second-team receivers
6:52 — Moving Jeremiah Smith around the formation
8:03 — Can Phillip Bell and a seventh receiver find snaps?
8:35 — How deep will Cortez Hankton’s receiver rotation go?
9:08 — Tight end: Four or five potential co-starters?
10:00 — How Ohio State could divide the tight end snaps
11:14 — Projecting Ohio State’s starting offensive line
11:38 — Is the starting five becoming clear?
12:24 — Breaking down the second-team offensive line
13:26 — Austin Siereveld’s versatility changes the depth chart
14:24 — Don’t forget about Vashon Washington
14:37 — The kicking competition
15:12 — Marcello Diomede shows off his leg
15:33 — Connor Hawkins remains the No. 1 kicker
16:10 — Final thoughts

Projected Offensive Line

LT — Ian Moore
LG — Luke Montgomery
C — Carson Hinzman
RG — Austin Siereveld
RT — Phillip Daniels

How would you set Ohio State’s offensive depth chart right now? And who do you think should start at running back — Bo Jackson or Isaiah West?

Let us know in the comments.

Subscribe to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hit the thumbs up, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss our continuing coverage from Ohio State fall camp.

For practice intel, camp observations, and year-round Ohio State football discussion, join us at BuckeyeInsiders.com.

The Buckeyes will soon be naming this year's Block O recipient. Who will it be this year?

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr go through the possibilities, position by position, landing on a pair of names to watch.

Three Ohio State true freshmen have lost their black stripes so far this year. Who will be the fourth? 

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman revisit their initial black stripe draft and throw it all out the window because Tony's victory was so decisive and quick.

Who do you think the next Buckeye to lose his black stripe will be? Throw your answers in the comment section.

Is Bryce Underwood Correct?

Is Ohio State really “just another game” for Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss recent comments from Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham and quarterback Bryce Underwood about the Ohio State rivalry, including whether hatred is necessary in The Game, how coaches and players should talk about rivalry week, and why comments like these can take on a life of their own once they hit social media.

They also discuss Ryan Day, Julian Sayin, the difference between a “cloud” and a “crown” after The Game, why rivalry comments are often performative, and somehow work in Fruit Stripe Gum, Skittle Brow, Rod Smart, the XFL, and the 2001 Las Vegas Outlaws.

00:00 — Intro
00:10 — Michigan Thursday and rivalry comments
00:28 — Kyle Whittingham’s comments about not hating Ohio State
02:19 — Why Whittingham’s answer was reasonable
05:14 — Performative rivalry hatred and Ryan Day
06:40 — Bryce Underwood says Ohio State is “just another game”
08:07 — Why Underwood’s answer raised eyebrows
10:28 — What quarterbacks should say about The Game
12:07 — Coaches, players, and reading between the lines
14:01 — How social media turns comments into outrage
15:54 — Rod Smart, “He Hate Me,” and the XFL
17:15 — More 2001 XFL memories
18:07 — BuckeyeInsiders.com and wrap-up

Is Bryce Underwood right, or is Ohio State never “just another game” for Michigan? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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Visit BuckeyeInsiders.com to become a member and join the conversation.

Ohio State freshman nickel Jay Timmons has already lost his black stripe and appears to be running with the first-team defense during fall camp.

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss what that means, how Timmons compares to Devin Sanchez at this time last year, and why the history of true freshman nickelbacks at Ohio State is so impressive.

They look back at the freshman nickel lineage of Antoine Winfield, Nate Clements, Donte Whitner, and Malcolm Jenkins, what kind of production would be realistic for Timmons this season, and how Ohio State’s defensive personnel could change depending on whether the Buckeyes use more nickel or more three-linebacker looks.

00:30 — Intro
00:37 — Fruit Stripe Gum, Skittle Brau, and pre-show chaos
01:03 — BuckeyeInsiders.com and the setup for Jay Timmons
01:48 — Devin Sanchez last year vs. Jay Timmons this year
03:05 — Why Timmons may be on track to start at nickel
04:53 — Why a true freshman nickel changes the defense
06:15 — The exclusive freshman nickel club at Ohio State
07:30 — Why that club is so impressive
09:02 — Antoine Winfield’s freshman numbers
10:34 — Malcolm Jenkins’ freshman production
12:19 — Donte Whitner’s freshman stat line
13:08 — What would count as a strong freshman season?
14:08 — Projecting Jay Timmons’ realistic numbers
15:29 — Comparing recent young Ohio State defensive backs
16:07 — Jordan Hancock and Grayson Littleton comparisons
17:37 — Final thoughts and listener question

What kind of freshman season do you expect from Jay Timmons? Drop your predictions in the comments.

Subscribe to Buckeye Weekly for daily Ohio State football talk, recruiting coverage, analysis, and more.

Visit BuckeyeInsiders.com to become a member and join the conversation.