The Buckeye Weekly Podcast

Could Ohio State have its deepest running back room in more than 30 years?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss whether the Buckeyes’ current backfield could be the deepest since the loaded 1992 group that featured Robert Smith, Raymont Harris, Jeff Cothran, Eddie George, Butler By’not’e, and others.

They compare that room to the current group of Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, Ja'Kobi Jackson, Legend Bey, Turbo Rogers, and more. They also look back at other Ohio State running back rooms from the Cooper, Tressel, Meyer, and Day eras to determine where this year’s group could eventually rank.

00:00 — Intro
00:10 — BuckeyeInsiders.com launch update
00:38 — Could this be Ohio State’s deepest RB room since 1992?
02:47 — Comparing this year’s backfield to the 1992 group
05:05 — Could this year’s production exceed 1992?
07:19 — Why the 1992 rushing numbers need context
10:17 — Remembering Tim Williams and the 1992 offense
13:48 — Other Ohio State running back rooms in the conversation
17:18 — NFL production from past Buckeye backfields
19:19 — Final thoughts and listener question

Could Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, Ja'Kobi Jackson, Legend Bey, and the rest of Ohio State’s running backs become one of the deepest backfields in Buckeye history? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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Bryce Underwood says he feels like he is the best player ever to come out of Michigan. Is that confidence, or is that going too far?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss Underwood’s comments, whether he meant the best player from the state of Michigan or the best player from the University of Michigan, and how he compares to names like Charles Woodson, Andre Rison, Tyrone Wheatley, Antonio Gates, Jerome Bettis, Chad Henne, J.J. McCarthy, and others.

They also look at Underwood’s freshman season, his development, Michigan’s quarterback history, and what he still has to prove before claims like that can be taken seriously.

00:31 — Intro
00:40 — Tom’s goal for the show
01:03 — Bryce Underwood’s big quote
03:20 — Did he mean Michigan high school football or the University of Michigan?
05:01 — Comparing Underwood to Michigan legends and freshman quarterbacks
07:37 — Bryce Underwood vs. Chad Henne as freshmen
10:22 — Terrelle Pryor comparison and freshman QB development
11:41 — J.J. McCarthy comparison and Michigan’s offensive outlook
13:19 — Final thoughts and listener question

Is Bryce Underwood on track to become the best player to come out of Michigan? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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Can Ohio State make it three straight Big Ten Freshman of the Year winners?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss whether the Buckeyes have a realistic candidate to follow Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin as the most recent Big Ten Freshmen of the Year from Ohio State. They look back at the Buckeyes' history with the award, including Robert Smith, Orlando Pace, Maurice Clarett, Terrelle Pryor, Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, Mike Weber, and C.J. Stroud.

They also discuss which current Buckeye freshmen have the best path to playing time, whether a true freshman wide receiver could put up the necessary numbers, how special teams could factor in, and why this might be a harder award for Ohio State to win this season than it was the last two years.

00:00 — Intro
00:12 — Tom discovers another second-generation Buckeye
01:27 — Ohio State’s recent Big Ten Freshman of the Year run
03:48 — Could Chris Henry Jr. be the top candidate?
05:25 — What kind of production would it take?
06:57 — The case for a versatile offensive weapon
09:16 — Why starters usually win this award
10:18 — Possible defensive candidates and longshot scenarios
11:22 — Final thoughts and listener picks

Which Buckeye freshman do you think has the best chance to win Big Ten Freshman of the Year? Drop your pick in the comments.

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Tony Gerdeman has five Ohio State football predictions for Tom Orr to judge.

Some are bold. Some are reasonable. Some may depend on opportunity, schedule, injuries, development, and how quickly new faces emerge for the Buckeyes this season.

Tony and Tom discuss several areas that could shape Ohio State’s year, including young offensive playmakers, linebacker production, special teams pressure, close-game situations, and whether the Buckeyes can answer one of the biggest questions facing the offense.

00:00 — Intro
00:11 — Tom prepares for Tony’s predictions
00:26 — Prediction No. 1
01:36 — How realistic is the first prediction?
03:01 — Prediction No. 2
04:39 — Why early-season narratives matter
06:56 — Texas games and linebacker expectations
08:44 — Prediction No. 3
09:40 — Prediction No. 4
10:24 — Late-game kicking situations
12:12 — Prediction No. 5
13:48 — Why the final prediction may be more realistic than it sounds
15:46 — One key difference from last year
16:57 — BuckeyeInsiders.com launch update
17:36 — Wrap-up

Which prediction do you think is most likely to happen? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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Visit BuckeyeInsiders.com for updates on the launch of the new site.

What would Julian Sayin need to do to win the Heisman Trophy?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss the path for Ohio State’s quarterback to become a Heisman contender, including the stats he would need, the wins that would matter most, and why the award is still so tied to narrative, record, and big-game moments.

They compare Sayin’s chances to recent Heisman quarterback seasons, discuss how Jeremiah Smith could both help and hurt his campaign, and look back at how much the award has changed from the days of Gino Torretta, Andre Ware, David Klingler, Cam Newton, Troy Smith, and others.

00:00 — Intro
00:11 — BuckeyeInsiders.com launch update
01:11 — Red, White, and Buckeye Insiders
01:38 — What Julian Sayin needs to do to win the Heisman
03:35 — Why wins may matter more than stats
05:24 — How close the Heisman race can get
07:10 — Could Ohio State vs. Oregon become a Heisman showdown?
09:01 — How many huge passing games does Sayin need?
10:32 — Heisman moments and Troy Smith comparisons
11:14 — Gino Torretta and old-school Heisman quarterback numbers
12:08 — Looking back at the 1992 Heisman race
13:12 — How much quarterback stats have changed
14:47 — David Klingler, Andre Ware, and video-game passing numbers
15:06 — Final thoughts and listener reminders

What would Julian Sayin need to do to win the Heisman this season? Drop your stat line and prediction in the comments.

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What would it take for Jeremiah Smith to win the Heisman Trophy?

Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss the kind of season Ohio State’s superstar wide receiver would need to put together to become a serious Heisman contender. They compare Smith’s potential numbers to past wide receiver Heisman-like seasons, including DeVonta Smith and Michael Crabtree, and discuss why stats alone may not be enough.

They also look at how defenses will try to limit Jeremiah Smith, why big performances against Texas, Oregon, Indiana, and Michigan would matter, how red-zone usage could boost his touchdown total, and whether Heisman voters may hold his position — or his already massive expectations — against him.

00:00 — Intro and the heat wave update
01:13 — Listener question: What does Jeremiah Smith need to do to win the Heisman?
02:10 — DeVonta Smith’s Heisman numbers
03:01 — Why DeVonta Smith’s situation was different
03:34 — Special teams value and extra Heisman points
04:29 — Michael Crabtree’s freshman season and Heisman voting history
06:25 — Why defenses will build everything around stopping Jeremiah Smith
09:50 — The burden of massive expectations
11:29 — How Ohio State can use Smith near the goal line
12:37 — Highlight catches, touchdowns, and Heisman moments
13:59 — Will Jeremiah Smith win the Heisman?
14:19 — Final thoughts and listener question
14:48 — BuckeyeInsiders.com launch update
15:35 — Wrap-up

Do you think Jeremiah Smith can win the Heisman this season? What numbers would he need to put up to make it happen? Drop your prediction in the comments.

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Visit BuckeyeInsiders.com for updates on the launch of the new site.

This is the latest episode of Buckeyes TomOrrow Morning as Tom Orr and Juck Miletti break down the commitment of 5-star wide receiver Jett Harrison from Wednesday.

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The Ohio State Buckeyes started the long 4th of July weekend off with a big BOOM on Wednesday, as Jett Harrison, a 5-star prospect considered the best wide receiver in the 2028 recruiting class, committed to OSU. 

In this special breaking news episode of Buckeyes TomOrrow Morning podcast, Juck Miletti, the recruiting insider from BuckeyeInsiders.com, joins host Tom Orr to discuss the impact of Harrison's commitment and what it means for the future of the wide receiver room in Columbus. 

His commitment gives OSU at least one 5-star wide receiver in every recruiting class from 2023 to 2029, starting with Brandon Inniss, Jeremiah Smith, Quincy Porter, Chris Henry, Jr., Jamier Brown, Jett Harrison, and Austin Miller. 

Today's episode is sponsored 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.

Which one-on-one matchups could define Ohio State’s season?

Tony Gerdeman makes Tom Orr blindly rank five individual Buckeye matchups that could shape some of Ohio State’s biggest games this year, including battles against Texas, Oregon, Michigan, and Indiana.

The discussion includes Kenyatta Jackson against Indiana’s offensive line, Devin Sanchez facing a major receiver test, Payton Pierce and Michigan’s running game, Julian Sayin matching wits with Oregon, and Carson Hinzman trying to help Ohio State solve a familiar problem up front.

00:00 — Intro
00:11 — Tom deflects with an I-70 construction rant
02:14 — The blind ranking challenge begins
03:29 — Matchup No. 1: Ohio State pass rush vs. Indiana protection
05:00 — Why Jeremiah Smith vs. Texas is not really a one-on-one matchup
06:14 — Matchup No. 2: Devin Sanchez gets a huge test
07:40 — Matchup No. 3: Ohio State linebacker vs. Michigan’s running game
10:00 — Matchup No. 4: Julian Sayin vs. a star safety
13:35 — Could this matchup have been ranked lower?
14:00 — Matchup No. 5: Ohio State’s interior offensive line vs. Indiana’s defensive front
16:05 — Final ranking reaction and listener challenge

Which individual matchup do you think will matter most for Ohio State this season? Drop your rankings in the comments.

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In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr talk about newest Ohio State WR commit Jordan Donahoo and what makes him such an interesting prospect.

With so much attention on freshmen wide receivers Chris Henry, Jr. and Brock Boyd, is classmate Jerquaden Guilford being overlooked? He is the highest-rated receiver recruit for Ohio State by at least one recruiting service, but he has not received the same kind of buzz. In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman discuss their expectations for Guilford this season and also look back on what their expectations were before spring and how things have changed since the winter.