The Buckeye Weekly Podcast

Will Isaiah West emerge as Ohio State’s not-so-secret weapon in 2026?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr revisit their expectations for the talented second-year running back after continuing to hear strong reviews about his potential inside the Ohio State football program.

West rushed for 312 yards and two touchdowns as a true freshman, but his role could grow considerably in an offense expected to place a greater emphasis on the running game under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

How close is West to presumed starter Bo Jackson? Could the two running backs combine for 2,000 rushing yards? And might West’s size make him Ohio State’s primary short-yardage and goal-line option?

Tony and Tom discuss West’s projected carries, rushing yards and touchdowns, the value of keeping the Buckeyes’ running backs fresh, and why West could be much more than a traditional backup this season.

Let us know your Isaiah West projections in the comments.

0:00 — Will Isaiah West be Ohio State’s secret weapon?
1:09 — Why expectations for West have changed
2:42 — Revisiting the preseason projections
4:19 — Could West rush for more than 800 yards?
5:49 — West’s potential short-yardage role
7:51 — Projecting his 2026 touchdown total
9:07 — Could West produce his first 100-yard game?
11:09 — Why Ohio State will divide the carries
12:01 — Final Isaiah West projections

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Bo Jackson rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a true freshman at Ohio State. So what comes next in year two?

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr revisit their offseason expectations for Bo Jackson and discuss whether his projected numbers still make sense after spring ball. They break down possible rushing totals, yards per carry, touchdowns, carry distribution, and how Ohio State’s deep running back room could impact Jackson’s production.

They also discuss the role of Isaiah West, Ja'Kobi Jackson, Legend Bey, Carlos Locklyn, Arthur Smith, and whether a better offensive line could make the Buckeyes’ running game even more efficient this season.

00:00 — Intro
00:16 — Tom’s national championship confetti update
01:48 — The confetti story gets even stranger
02:25 — Revisiting Bo Jackson expectations from February
03:13 — Tony’s projected numbers for Bo Jackson
04:10 — Why the touchdown jump makes sense
05:50 — Carry totals, yards per game, and Ohio State’s RB history
08:09 — How Isaiah West, Ja'Kobi Jackson, and Legend Bey could impact carries
10:24 — Short-yardage carries and Bo Jackson’s yards-per-carry outlook
11:02 — Remembering what Bo Jackson already accomplished as a freshman
12:06 — How high is Bo Jackson’s ceiling in year two?
13:28 — Final prediction and listener question

What kind of season do you expect from Bo Jackson in year two? Drop your rushing yards, touchdowns, and yards-per-carry predictions in the comments.

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Ohio State’s cornerback room has a chance to be one of the strengths of the 2026 Buckeye defense — but are there still legitimate concerns?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss the biggest questions facing the Ohio State cornerbacks, including whether expectations are too high for Jermaine Matthews, Devin Sanchez, and Dominick Kelly; how the Buckeyes replace Davison Igbinosun’s physicality; and whether every cornerback room is bound to have a few rough moments over the course of a season.

They also discuss what the spring revealed about Devin Sanchez, how daily battles with Jeremiah Smith could help prepare the corners, why Dominick Kelly’s experience at Georgia matters, and how past great Ohio State corners have still had difficult matchups.

00:00 — Intro
00:11 — Tom asks what Tony is panicking about today
00:25 — Setting up the cornerback concerns
01:06 — Concern No. 1: Are expectations too high?
02:23 — Why the cornerback projection is fair, but not reckless
05:36 — Veteran depth and the value of insurance at corner
06:23 — Concern No. 2: Replacing Davison Igbinosun’s physicality
08:31 — Why practicing against Jeremiah Smith matters
09:53 — A challenging schedule for Ohio State’s cornerbacks
10:47 — Concern No. 3: Avoiding random bad games and big plays
12:07 — Why even great corners give up plays
13:28 — Final thoughts on the concern level
14:29 — BuckeyeInsiders.com and wrap-up

How concerned are you about Ohio State’s cornerbacks this season? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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Can Ohio State’s 2026 defense be even better than the Buckeyes’ 2024 national championship defense?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr compare the two defenses position by position, including the defensive line, linebackers, cornerbacks, safeties, and special teams. They discuss why the 2024 defense sets such a high bar with players like J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Tyleik Williams, Ty Hamilton, Cody Simon, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, Lathan Ransom, Jordan Hancock, Denzel Burke, and Davison Igbinosun.

They also look at where the 2026 Buckeyes could have an edge, including the cornerback room, the potential of the linebacker group, the return game, and whether a full-time special teams coordinator could make a major difference.

00:00 — Intro
00:10 — Comparing this year’s Buckeyes to a national championship team
00:44 — Tony sets up the 2026 vs. 2024 defense debate
00:54 — BuckeyeInsiders.com update
01:27 — Why this comparison is different from asking who can win it all
02:02 — Defensive line comparison
03:12 — Why the 2024 defensive line gets the edge for now
04:38 — Linebacker comparison
05:59 — Could the 2026 linebackers eventually catch the 2024 group?
07:32 — Cornerback comparison
08:55 — Why the 2026 cornerback room may have the edge
10:30 — Safety and nickel comparison
12:19 — Why the 2026 safeties could still be one of the nation’s best groups
13:40 — Special teams comparison
16:10 — Why 2026 special teams could be better
18:04 — Final position-by-position thoughts
19:23 — Listener question and wrap-up

Can Ohio State’s 2026 defense top the 2024 national championship defense? Drop your position-by-position picks in the comments.

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Could the 2026 Ohio State offense actually be better than the 2024 national championship offense?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr compare the Buckeyes’ 2026 offense to the 2024 title team position by position, including Julian Sayin vs. Will Howard, the current running back room vs. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, Jeremiah Smith’s growth, the wide receiver and tight end groups, and whether the 2026 offensive line could eventually match or exceed the 2024 version.

They also discuss how much championship bias impacts the comparison, how roster-building has changed in the NIL and transfer portal era, and why the 2026 Buckeyes may not need to be better than 2024 at every spot to still compete for a national title.

00:00 — Intro
00:11 — Tom courts disaster with coffee and a white shirt
00:42 — Comparing the 2026 offense to the 2024 national champions
02:12 — How NIL and the portal have changed roster depth
04:26 — Ohio State’s recent recruiting success in Alabama
06:11 — Quarterback comparison: Julian Sayin vs. Will Howard
07:26 — What Sayin needs to do better than Howard
09:49 — Running back comparison: 2026 depth vs. 2024 star power
10:55 — Why Henderson and Judkins set such a high bar
13:02 — Receiver and tight end comparison
14:27 — Offensive line comparison and injury questions
15:51 — Could the 2026 offensive line be better for most of the season?
17:56 — Final thoughts and listener questions
19:44 — BuckeyeInsiders.com update and wrap-up

Could the 2026 Ohio State offense be better than the 2024 national championship offense? Drop your position-by-position picks in the comments.

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

Who had the greatest true freshman season in Ohio State football history?

Tony Gerdeman and Juck Miletti rank the Top 10 true freshman seasons ever by a Buckeye, led by Jeremiah Smith's incredible 2024 campaign. Along the way they debate Andy Katzenmoyer, Maurice Clarett, Orlando Pace, Ted Ginn Jr., the Bosa brothers, J.K. Dobbins and more before turning their attention to the current Buckeyes.

Which members of Ohio State's 2026 freshman class could make a championship-level impact? Could Chris Henry Jr., Legend Bey, Brock Boyd, Jay Timmons or Khari Wilder become the next freshman stars? Finally, the guys look ahead to the 2027 recruiting class and discuss the long-term outlook for one of Ohio State's most talented groups in recent memory, including the pursuit of David GabrielGeorges.

Who would make your Top 10 list?

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0:00 Welcome to The Time and Change Will Surely Show
0:49 The show's format: Past, Present and Future
1:17 Ranking the greatest true freshman seasons in Ohio State history
1:48 Jeremiah Smith claims the No. 1 spot
2:36 When did everyone realize Jeremiah Smith was different?
4:19 Ryan Day's "Watch this" moment and spring practice memories
7:02 No. 2: Andy Katzenmoyer's legendary 1996 season
9:26 No. 3: Orlando Pace changes left tackle forever
11:08 Maurice Clarett's unforgettable freshman championship run
13:09 Joey Bosa vs. Nick Bosa debate
14:44 J.K. Dobbins' explosive freshman campaign
15:41 Marcus Marek, Korey Stringer and the offensive line legends
17:49 Ted Ginn Jr.'s game-breaking freshman season
20:54 Juck's personal Top 10 list
23:51 Cris Carter's place among Ohio State greats
25:28 Which 2026 freshmen could make the biggest impact?
26:54 Chris Henry Jr. vs. Legend Bey
29:58 Why Legend Bey could be a perfect fit immediately
30:38 David Boston and Michael Wiley set the standard in 1996
32:53 Jay Timmons, Khari Wilder and the defensive freshmen to watch
36:34 Looking ahead to Ohio State's loaded 2027 recruiting class
40:34 The future of the Buckeye defensive line
42:22 Where does Jamier Brown fit?
44:09 David Gabriel-Georges' potential impact
48:22 Why Ohio State's 2027 class is already a major success
50:59 Is David Gabriel-Georges a "must-get" recruit?
53:52 The latest recruiting prediction discussion
55:15 Final thoughts and outro

Ohio State may have one of the deepest running back rooms in the country, but are there still reasons for concern?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss the Buckeyes’ running back situation, including the injury histories throughout the room, how Carlos Locklyn can manage a deep group, whether the backs can get into a rhythm while sharing carries, and who Ohio State can trust in short-yardage situations.

The discussion includes Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, Ja'Kobi Jackson, Legend Bey, Turbo Rogers, Favour Akih, and comparisons to past Buckeye running back rotations featuring TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, J.K. Dobbins, Mike Weber, Trey Sermon, Chip Trayanum, Dallan Hayden, and others.

00:00 — Intro from the Schottenstein Center
00:18 — BuckeyeInsiders.com is live
01:04 — Concern No. 1: Running back health
02:14 — Why depth helps protect against injuries
03:40 — What happens if Ohio State has to go deep down the depth chart?
05:22 — Concern No. 2: Can the backs get into a groove?
05:55 — Lessons from past running back rotations
07:54 — Why this rotation cannot just be a set batting order
09:54 — Why communication and buy-in matter
11:20 — Could anyone get 20 carries in a game?
12:49 — Fresh legs vs. rhythm in the backfield
13:08 — Concern No. 3: Short-yardage answers
14:05 — Who can become Ohio State’s goal-line option?
16:10 — Final thoughts and listener questions
16:33 — BuckeyeInsiders.com and wrap-up

What is your biggest concern with Ohio State’s running back room this season? Drop your thoughts 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.

Ohio State lost two elite linebackers from last year’s national championship defense, so how concerned should Buckeye fans be about the position in 2026?

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss the biggest linebacker concerns facing Ohio State this season, including the challenge of replacing Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, the pressure on Payton Pierce as the new leader of the defense, the importance of tackling consistency, and how much Riley Pettijohn, Christian Allegro, TJ Alford, Eli Lee, and others could factor into the rotation.

The Buckeyes may not have two first-round linebackers again, but can Matt Patricia and the Ohio State defense still find the right answers?

Join us at BuckeyeInsiders.com for more Ohio State football coverage, message board discussion, insider analysis, and more.

00:00 Welcome to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast
01:01 BuckeyeInsiders.com is live
01:56 The biggest concerns at linebacker
02:25 Replacing Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese
03:17 Can Ohio State still have very good linebacker play?
05:41 Why the Buckeyes don’t have to replace everyone one-for-one
06:25 Concern No. 2: Tackling without Sonny Styles
07:26 How much does Ohio State’s margin for error shrink?
09:15 The impact of losing Caleb Downs behind the linebackers
10:20 Concern No. 3: Payton Pierce taking over the defense
11:25 Why Pierce may already be prepared for the role
13:09 Concern No. 4: Figuring out Riley Pettijohn’s role
14:20 Why missing spring matters for Pettijohn
15:26 How TJ Alford and C.J. Hicks-style versatility could help the rotation
16:28 Eli Lee, depth, coaching, and final thoughts
17:10 Subscribe, comment, and join BuckeyeInsiders.com

Ohio State’s offensive line could be very good this season — but there are still some important questions to answer.

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss four major concerns for the Buckeyes up front, including the left tackle situation, Philip Daniels’ development, how the line handles movement and stunts, and how quickly Ohio State can settle on its best five.

They also discuss where Austin Siereveld, Ian Moore, Carson Hinzman, Luke Montgomery, Philip Daniels, Josh Padilla, Gabe VanSickle, and Jake Cook could fit into the offensive line picture.

00:00 — Intro
00:07 — Tom reacts to the title
00:19 — Concern No. 1: Is Ian Moore ready at left tackle?
01:37 — Why Ian Moore is more of a question than a crisis
03:46 — Concern No. 2: Philip Daniels’ next step
05:36 — Right-side issues from last season
06:09 — How much growth has Daniels already shown?
07:59 — Concern No. 3: Can the line handle movement and stunts?
10:08 — Why experience and Arthur Smith could help
12:21 — Concern No. 4: How long until Ohio State finds its best five?
14:11 — Fall camp options and possible offensive line combinations
16:33 — Final thoughts and listener questions

What is your biggest concern with Ohio State’s offensive line this season? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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The day we've been waiting for is finally (almost) here! Buckeye Insiders, the new Ohio State fan community is set to launch Wednesday, July 8 at Noon Eastern. 

Who is a part of the new site? How is it going to be different? How can you be a part of it all?

In this episode of the Buckeyes TomOrrow Morning podcast, Tony Gerdeman of BuckeyeInsiders.com joins host Tom Orr to talk about everything you need to know to be a part of the big launch day. 

Today's show is presented by Jeff Ruby's Columbus, the award-winning, upscale steakhouse in Downtown Columbus, named one of the Top 50 steakhouses in America by Food Network. Just go to JeffRuby.com/Columbus to check out the menu and make a reservation today.