The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State NFL Combine Report

Episode Theme:
A deep dive into Ohio State’s players at the 2026 NFL Combine—analysis of Davison Igbinosun, Caleb Downs, Lorenzo Styles, and the Buckeye tight ends, with big-picture draft talk (especially about positional value), plus trademark wit and fan-focused perspectives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Coverage at the Combine

• Doug and Bill set up at Radio Row for the Combine, reflecting on access to players and their own roles in providing coverage for Buckeye fans.
• Noted that Thursday's focus was on interviews/discussions with Davison Igbinosun, Lorenzo Styles, Caleb Downs, Will Kacmarek, and Max Clare (00:29).
• Reflected on balance between fun and insightful football talk, aiming to fight "Southern CFB bias" and engage the OSU fanbase.

2. Davison Igbinosun: The Cornerback’s Draft Stock, Growth, and Legacy

Media Impression & Character

• Both Doug and Bill express admiration for Igbinosun’s presence and candor:

  “We love him like, he's one of our own. Is that too strong?... He’s great.” — Bill (01:55)

• Regret not getting more interview sessions during his Ohio State career.

Draft Range and Athletic Profile (03:03–04:39)

• Projections range from early second (Dane Brugler: #50), to third (#83), to fourth round (#133).
• Doug is keen to see how Igbinosun’s physical measurements and 40 time impact his stock.
• Bill notes that a tall, long, super fast corner can quickly rise on draft boards (“You become a cornerback who shoots up draft boards”).
• Confidence is a positive at corner—"I think a corner, you almost have to be that way." — Bill (05:13)

Penalties: The Narrative & Maturity (07:18–14:20)

• Doug asked Igbinosun directly about his high penalty totals (“most penalized player in the country” 2024). Igbinosun freely admitted NFL teams are grilling him on this.
• Bill emphasizes that Igbinosun takes ownership rather than blaming refs:

  “You better come to the same conclusion when you're in these interviews and have an answer ready for that question. And I think Davison did...” (09:15)

• Data rundown: Only one true outlier penalty year (16 in 2024), far fewer other years; four-year starter with massive snap count (2,801).
• Quote:

  “At Ohio State, the seats are not owned. The rent is due every single day. You have to be doing something to keep your job or... take someone’s job.” — Davison Igbinosun (16:55)
  This spawned their idea for the nickname: “The Landlord”.

Igbinosun’s Team Impact (15:21–22:49)

• Doug notes Igbinosun’s transformational impact on the cornerback room’s culture—raising standards, competition, and toughness.
• It took time to gain acceptance, but ultimately, “going through that situation, me and [Jordan Hancock] became the best of friends...” — quoting Igbinosun.
• Igbinosun’s story of overcoming a stutter: His growth in confidence, both as a player and a communicator, was highlighted as emblematic of his growth at Ohio State (18:34).

Legacy & The “BIA” (Best In America) Room (23:05–28:59)

• Igbinosun is poised to be OSU’s highest-drafted DB since 2020.
• Doug & Bill stress the importance of Igbinosun’s years and attitude as the start of a cornerback-room resurgence (after 5 years with no 1st-2nd round OSU DBs).
• Tim Walton (coach) gets credit for progress; they ponder new potential high picks in the next few years.

3. Caleb Downs: Superstar Safety—Draft Value, Combine Importance, & The Zeke Elliott Parallels

Combine Appearance & Media Engagement (30:16–32:23)

• Only nine minutes at the podium, then off to national interviews (“Professor Downs,” glasses and all).
• Downs avoided specifics on which teams he’d met (“I’ve met with about a dozen teams and I’m not going to talk about who.” 31:12).
• Doug laments lack of opportunity:

  “I didn’t really get to get in… I really wanted to know [about board-work sessions with teams].” (06:59)

Positional Value Debate & NFL Stock (33:22–44:35)

• Doug draws a direct parallel: Caleb Downs in 2026 = Ezekiel Elliott in 2016 (elite prospect at a position with lower modern NFL value).

  “It was so obvious how good Ezekiel Elliott was… The conversation from an NFL perspective was, what’s the value of the position? ... That’s what I’ve been reminded of all week, a decade later, of Caleb Downs is Ezekiel Elliott.” (34:48)

• Historically, no top-five safeties since 2010 (Eric Berry). Mel Kiper mocks Downs as high as #2.
• Bill and Doug’s take: Downs is possibly the best pure football player in the draft—if you’re just picking the best player, he’s the answer.
• Debate:

  “If you don’t have a quarterback, then you are just... everything’s open, good players mode… Caleb Downs might be the best football player regardless of position in this entire draft.” — Doug (43:27)

• “Are you the best player in this draft?” Downs: “If I step on the football field, I mean, I think I’m the best player.” (43:37)
• Bill: “He might be more cerebral than he is athletic, but that’s OK. He’s versatile... I’d probably bet on him being an All-Pro a couple times.” (36:09–36:59)

4. Lorenzo Styles, Special Teams Value, & the “Late Growth” Cornerback (45:35–49:35)

• Longer avail than Downs (16 minutes) but less in-depth content.
• Doug: “He’s a fine fella. Was he agitated?” (46:10)
• Notre Dame questions drew notably short answers; transition from WR at ND to DB at OSU only two years ago.
• Bill’s view:

  “I actually think he’s going to be in the NFL for a long time as a special teamer. I just don’t know if his ceiling is anything higher than that.” (46:54)

• Highlights his core special teams value and ability to play nickel or deep safety—a path to an NFL pension by being player #45 on a roster (49:09).

5. Max Clare & Will Kacmarek: The Tight End Draft Math (49:35–55:27)

• Max Clare: Transfer from Purdue—chose OSU to become more well-rounded, especially as a blocker, and believes he did (50:29).
• Not a great tight end draft class; Max projects as a third-rounder (72nd overall in the consensus mock database, 52:42). Bill thinks he'll go lower, Doug thinks he's more like Jeremy Ruckert (third round).
• Will Kacmarek: OSU’s pure blocking TE—projects as a late pick (253), but both think he’ll rise ("Will Kacmarek will go significantly higher than that" — Doug, 53:16). Bill compares him to Luke Farrell, who carved out a solid NFL career via physicality.
• Big-picture: NFL teams value “do the dirty work” blocking much higher than pure “oversized slot receiver” skills at TE:

  “I know that he blocks his butt off and teams like that a lot… he is a guy who wants to do the dirty work that I think teams will very much appreciate.” — Bill (54:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Igbinosun’s Confidence:

• “I was Davison. I came to compete every single day. I played with a chip on my shoulder... I was just going in there every day trying to prove myself.” (15:45)

The “Landlord” Nickname:

• “Davison Igbignosin, the landlord. Because guess what’s up? The rent is due.” — Doug (17:32)

On Penalties:

• “You watch the tape. You can see what I was doing wrong and you can see the corrections this past season.” — Davison Igbinosun, as relayed by Bill (09:16)

On Downs as a Draft Prospect:

• “It was so obvious how good Ezekiel Elliott was… That’s what I’ve been reminded of all week, a decade later, of Caleb Downs is Ezekiel Elliott.” — Doug (34:48)
• “I’d probably bet on him being an All-Pro a couple times.” — Bill (36:09)

General Podcast Banter:

• “At Ohio State, the seats are not owned. The rent is due every single day.” — Davison Igbinosun (16:55)
• “He could be the most underrated Ohio State player in the last 10 years.” — Doug on Igbinosun (19:25)
• “Everything else [in positional value] is equal.” — Doug on NFL draft philosophy (37:13)
• [On deciding what to give subscribers/free listeners:] “Chief Content Officer Bill Landis…It’s called a tease.” (33:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |---|---| | Intro, setup | 00:00–01:16 | | Davison Igbinosun: combine impression, draft projections | 01:38–04:39 | | On Igbinosun’s penalty history and interviews | 07:18–14:20 | | Igbinosun’s impact on team culture, “Landlord” nickname | 15:21–17:51 | | On Igbinosun’s stutter and confidence | 18:34–19:36 | | Igbinosun’s legacy, BIA, and draft history | 23:05–28:59 | | On Caleb Downs at the combine | 30:16–32:23 | | Zeke Elliott comparison, positional value, draft philosophy | 33:22–44:35 | | Interview with Lorenzo Styles, special teams value | 45:47–49:35 | | Max Clare & Will Kacmarek, OSU tight ends analysis | 49:35–55:27 |

Final Thoughts & Tone

• The episode is characteristically good-humored, accessible, and smart—balancing endless Buckeye insights with running jokes (Minnesota Vikings seat-jacking, Jersey memories, and “who is the Jets quarterback?”).
• Both hosts highlight overlooked truths: the actual on-field value of certain positions, the human growth and character stories behind Buckeye athletes, and the impact of OSU culture on their draft perceptions.
• The show concludes with plans for an upcoming “North vs. South” NFL Draft talent episode, signaling their ongoing crusade for Big Ten and Ohio State respect.

For Buckeye fans and football heads alike, this episode offers the perfect blend of draft junkie depth, home-team pride, and insider locker-room perspective from two voices who know every inch of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.