← The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk
The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk
Ohio State spring football preview; transfers and returning players to watch: Around the Shoe
00:58:31
Around the Shoe previews Ohio State spring football, which starts on March 10, on this episode of The Bill and Doug Show. Tim May and Marcus Hartman join Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis to discuss the Buckeyes they are most curious to see this spring.
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- [00:00]
Tim May
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Doug
Welcome back to around the Shoe on the Bill and Doug Show. Doug Lamoris and Bill Landis, as always, joined by two spectacular members of the Ohio State media. Two returning guests this week, Tim May and Marcus Hartman. Tim May from the Tim May Show. Thanks for being here, brother.
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Tim May
I'm so good. So glad to be on the bad. Sometimes bad is good.
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Doug
Yeah. So we're glad to have you back. Marcus Hartman, thank you for your time, sir.
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Marcus Hartman
Thanks for having me.
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Doug
Spring football's coming. Landis Spring football's coming on Tuesday, March 10th. Is that correct? That's like in eight days as we record this.
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Bill Landis
That is correct. The the snow on the ground in Columbus is the sign that spring football is around the corner.
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Doug
Right around the corner. So we want to preview spring football because we didn't want to preview it like the day before. Spring football started by doing this next Monday. We're doing it now. We're going to run through the Ohio State roster and just talk about like what we're curious about as we think about the Buckeyes. We just came back from the NFL combine. There were a bunch of departing Buckeyes over there. There's a bunch of new guys here. Tim May, the first question we'll start with you and we're going to kind of run through this in, in in two forms here with returning and transfer guys. Offensive side of the ball. Tim May.
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Tim May
Yes.
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Doug
Who is the returning offensive player? The guy who was on the roster last year that you are most curious to see in spring ball?
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Tim May
We have to be. I've thought about this because you sent me the Questions ahead of time. And of course, 40 answers. 40 answers come to mind. But I'm going to go with Philip Daniels final answer, because I'm curious, number one, where's. Where are they going to line him up? Which is, Is it going to be right guard or right tackle? Because he played right tackle, of course, all year, last year. And so that will set in motion what are they going. What is going to be different about this offensive line? Obviously, Tiger Shabola has moved on the starting right guard the last two years. Also the weak link, you know, pretty much off and on the last two years. Now they've got Gabe Fensickle, you know, Josh Padilla. Will they move Carson Hisman to right guard? But I think the Philip Daniels. What they do with Philip Daniels is going to set the stage for everything else. So I would say Philip Daniels because I'm not going to ever judge a man about the way he took on that track meet of a, of a player in Reuben Bain in the bowl game. That was just ridiculous to watch Ruben bane getting a 10, 10 yard head start. But Philip Daniels, I think, played a lot better than some people thought last year. But that right side of the offensive line suffered from inadequacies at right guard in the biggest games of the season.
- [03:47]
Doug
Yeah, yeah. And sometimes that permeates. Right. Like if the guy next to you isn't exactly doing what you expect him to do, it can affect other people. I think we've seen that in the past.
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Tim May
Called corrosion. It's called corrosion.
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Doug
Corrosion. That's not a racing term. I think that I'm curious how many of us wind up talking about offensive line in this conversation, because there are many. So, you know, there's. The offensive line has so many guys back. Marcus, where are you with this returning guy?
- [04:11]
Marcus Hartman
I was, I was going to say Philip Daniels also. And I agree, I think he was fine last year, but I mean, I literally want to see how he looks physically. Like, does he look, you know, I think another. A little more time to mature and more time in the weight room. Could he be a little bit, you know, have a little bit more good muscle and just be rounded into form a little bit better? But so if I can't say Daniels. And like I said, I agree he was fine last year for. But I also, I kind of want to see Luke Montgomery. Is he going to come back? Is he like ready to fight bears with the switch finally? Because that's kind of what they need. And so I want to see, I want to see physically how a couple of these Guys look like. Are they ready to. I put on somewhere, like I post on the Buckeye sports bulletin message board. And I said, you know, is it. Is it too much to ask for Ohio State to have an offensive line that can just kick people's ass, like, more than once every six years? Because it's been a while. So, you know, that. That's. These guys are. I mean, so the line is in position to be pretty good, even if Everybody just gets 10% better. But, like, what will they look like? Will they be good and what will they look like? Well, they look physical and nasty if they're playing anybody other than Michigan.
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Doug
There's a lot of things, Bill, that, you know, I don't know. Right. There are things that are in the world that slide right past me. Fight bears with the switch. Is this a staying.
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Tim May
I don't know. My mom. My mom used to, when we'd get in trouble, would tell us to go out to the. To the hedge there and pick out a switch.
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Bill Landis
Pick a switch. Yeah, I know that. Yeah. Yeah.
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Doug
I thought you were gonna say your mama go and say, go outside and fight a bear.
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Tim May
No, we didn't have. We didn't have bears in. In Alabama and in Texas, where. The part of Texas I lived in so it wouldn't have been that.
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Doug
Is that your phrase?
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Marcus Hartman
I got that from a peewee football coach.
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Tim May
I've heard that before, though. I have heard that before, Marcus. That's why I didn't. I didn't flinch when you said it
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Marcus Hartman
in, like, 1993 or so.
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Tim May
Although I thought bears with switches last year, I thought he was.
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Marcus Hartman
He's got high expectations. He had some. He had some. Some bumps in the road. I mean, he was more good than bad, but like I said, is he going to be more Donovan Jackson or, you know, and the guy who's, like, an elite player. That's what I mean. I mean, he wasn't. Yeah. Other than Tegra. If Tegra was blocking the right person, they were all pretty good, you know.
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Tim May
Well, stayed where he was. Yeah.
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Marcus Hartman
But I hadn't thought about the idea of moving Hinsman. So that's.
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Tim May
You.
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Marcus Hartman
You made me senior. So they'll just. No, that might be a better option. I think you might be a better guard than center, too.
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Doug
Well, there's always these things. Sometimes we all remember stories of, like, you show up for the first day of spring football and you're like, oh, I didn't know that was going to be that. And I do think there's a chance that we show up for the first day of spring football, and the line is reshuffled in a way that we're like, oh, that is not what I thought this was going to be. Landis, are you offensive line on, too?
- [07:02]
Bill Landis
I. I am, but I'll. For the sake of being different, I'll say somebody else, but I. I also want to just share that I. I googled fight bears with a switch while you were talking. And Google AI says that fighting a bear with a switch is not a viable defense strategy and could be dangerous,
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Tim May
but it means you feel. If you've got a switch in your hand, it means you feel you can take on that bear and. And conquer him with almost your bare hands. I think that's what Marcus was getting to. Right, Marcus?
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Marcus Hartman
Yeah. Okay.
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Bill Landis
Okay, I get it.
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Doug
We'll ask. We'll ask Luke about it. We'll ask Luke about it.
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Bill Landis
Yeah, no, yeah, I am. I am likewise, very interested in all these. All these moving parts on the offensive line. I would throw the name Ian more in there, too, as we figure out exactly what that looks like. But, like, can I say Julian saying, like, I know he's obvious. He's a quarterback and it's obvious, and he's a Heisman Trophy finalist, but pretty big off season for Julian, I think. Right. I want to see. You know, I did see him in some videos on the Buckeye Cruise, but I would like to see if he looks like he's, you know, gotten any bigger. Does he look any more athletic? How is he carrying himself? How is he establishing himself as the leader of this offense? I'm super curious where exactly that comes from on that side of the ball. Right. I think we, like. Brandon Ennis is a returning captain, but I do think Ohio State, when it's at its best, does have its. Its quarterback as the guy that is sort of like, leading the charge and the guy that the, you know, the rest of the offense can turn to and say, like, all right, this guy's got this. And I think to a man, they would all say, like, Julian's got a ton of skill. And they had. They had a lot of fun playing with him last year and think that he's an excellent quarterback. But we all know there's more to the position than just, you know, an extraordinary ability to throw the football, which. Which Julian has. So I'm just interested to get around him and see if the vibes are any different. Right?
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Marcus Hartman
He's.
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Bill Landis
Yeah, he's gonna. He's gonna be good. I think. I think we all know that. But does it. Does it start to feel like it's. It's kind of his team in any way?
- [09:06]
Tim May
On the tv, shots of him sitting courtside at the Ohio State Purdue game. When I was watching on television, I wasn't there, but he was sitting next to Brian Schottenstein, you know, which I guess is good company for him and his nil future. But. But he looked like he was trying to grow a mustache. So I'm curious about that.
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Doug
Is that good or bad?
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Bill Landis
Are we.
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Doug
I don't know, Julian.
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Tim May
I don't. I don't know. I mean, it looked like the. The little video I saw him. It looked like he was trying to work out a mustache of some sort. So that'll be a new look for him also, just like Bill's talking about.
- [09:40]
Doug
All right, I know my first question on interviews next Tuesday, then it's about Julian saying his mustache. You mentioned mine, Landis. Mine's Ian Moore. Because who thinks it's possible that we show up and it's like, oh, Ian Moore's a left tackle.
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Tim May
Offensive line, I think it's possible, but, like, that's it.
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Doug
Like, what's going on here? Hey, Austin, Sarah, about. He was good at left tackle last year.
- [09:59]
Tim May
I think it's possible right tackle, too. You know, Go ahead. Yeah, but like that.
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Doug
Like that. And like, when Ian Moore had to play that one game last year, remember to talk, you know, talking to people and they're like, you know, we really like him for the future. We don't think he's all the way there now. But then the way you saw him play in the second half against Miami, that. Yeah, you know, when Austin Serel was hurt, like, I just. As we think about all these parts and you think about, there's like nine options at right guard, but if Austin Seravel is not the left tackle, not because he did anything wrong, but because Ian Moore is ready to be that and they want to move Seravel inside, that changes a lot of stuff if he's the right tackle. So I almost think. I almost think it starts with Ian Moore to some degree. If it's like, yes, he's a starting tackle, then what happens? Because your two starting tackles are back. But if he. Then one of those tackles can move inside.
- [10:47]
Tim May
But here's the thing. They got to get right guard figured out. Right guard was their Achilles. Miami knew it. Indiana knew it. You know? Yeah, Miami and Indiana attacked a lot of the parts of the front, but they really. They focused. Their focal point was messing with right. Messing with the right guard. In both of those games, the two games when. Where Ohio State could not consistently protect Julian, saying, with or without a mustache. And so they've got to get that figured out. Ryan Day knows that. I know for a fact, you know, that's part and parcel what they're looking at there. And it'll be interesting to see what Arthur Smith brings to the equation just in that regard, you know, and. And then Tyler Bowen, you know, what have y' all decided in the off season? And just like we thought, you know, we all thought going into the preseason camp, at least the. The vibe I left with was Ethan on the ano was going to be the starting of tackle, no doubt about it. And, dude, how many plays did he play last year? 20. You know what I mean? So just because whatever we see in the start of spring doesn't mean that's what we're going to see. But they've got to get that part figured out. They got to feel strong about right guard, which they did not feel strong about against better opponents last year, with the exception maybe of the Michigan game.
- [12:06]
Doug
And they have options to feel strong like Voss. If they're like, Austin, Sarah's the right guard, it's like, man, that would feel right, right, Marcus, that would feel pretty strong. If it's like, hey, Austin's moving.
- [12:15]
Marcus Hartman
Yeah, I would think so. And I don't think he's got too much of. Too much of an ego to resist doing something like that. And then you could probably say the same thing about Daniels. I mean, I think that. Yeah, so it's nice that Saravel survived out there and was decent at tackle, but I think there's a very. It's fairly likely that the line might be better with him inside. And, you know, it doesn't hurt to get more reps inside, you know, for your film as well, because it's not like he's going to get drafted on traits, so the more versatility he's got, the better. Plus, then, you know, you can slide him out there. I mean, maybe you go into the year, you know, saying, well, we're pretty sure Ian can do it, but I suppose if he completely flops, you can always move Sourdough back out there.
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Doug
Right.
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Marcus Hartman
And from that standpoint. Yeah, I mean, yeah, yeah, obviously Tim's right. They can't have a. It seems it's kind of like everything is becoming more like the NFL. It's like the weakest link is actually the biggest problem a lot of times, especially in big games and especially if you face teams, you know, with very smart defensive coordinators from southwest Ohio. You know how to like attack your. You know how to pinpoint things. So you know that that's. If four guys make their block, it doesn't necessarily mean anything. And then they saw that a lot last year, so. Yeah, yeah.
- [13:27]
Tim May
Well, I was like Miami, Miami had. Miami used a little scheme, but they mainly made it man to man combat, you know, Whereas Indiana was much more scheme driven with the way they mess with Ohio State, at least from my perspective. And you know, you got to have the guys. You got to have a guy at Ohio. That front five, like Mark just said, those have to be no doubters, you know, no brainers and no doubters. So that's where they fell short last year. Yeah. I mean, look at the point production in those three games.
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Doug
All right, we could do a 45 minute offensive line show. Landis, if you just want to stay here. But we probably should move on, right?
- [14:04]
Bill Landis
Yeah. Yeah.
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Doug
All right, let's go to question number two. Marcus, we'll start with you. Stay on the offensive side of the ball. Who is the transfer on the offensive side of the ball that you are most curious to see in spring ball? Marcus Hartman.
- [14:17]
Marcus Hartman
Well, I think taking it literally, I want to see if Devin McCune just looks different, you know, if he's got a different gear from some of the other guys or if he's just kind of out there as a smaller guy who is the same speed as everybody else. I guess that's literally. I want to see if he looks different because that's. Especially in the spring, that's about all you get is you find out who maybe stands out, who's a little bit bigger and stronger and faster than everybody else. So see if that can be kind of a weapon or not. And, you know, curious to see what Kyle Parker looks like, kind of lined up with everybody else as well. That's the main thing that I want to see. Is he going to be somebody who's got. Is he got quick feet as he got different kind of in and out breaks type of a thing than the other guys? Or if he's just another. I mean, we know he can catch the ball and run with it, but what does he look like when he's surrounded by Ohio State athletes?
- [15:06]
Tim May
Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm not next him. I'm last.
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Doug
No, but Tim, you're always next on this show. But it is right by Tim. Like the idea of what do transfer receivers look like when they get on the field with Ohio State level receivers? Right. I'M sure that's where you're going, Tim. Right?
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Tim May
Yeah. Yeah.
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Bill Landis
That's why.
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Tim May
But Cal Parker, you know, he's been on the field at lsu, you know what I mean, in some form or fashion. And he's coming. I don't know if he's coming with his coach. But, you know, you're as curious about Coach Hankton as you are maybe Kyle Parker. But you know, the guy I'm, I'm very curious about and I'm just trying to figure out whether he's the C.J. donaldson. First there was Quinn, John Judkins and there was C.J. donaldson. You know, I'm very curious about Jacoby Jackson, you know, the, the running back from Florida. I mean, I and obviously the top two running backs aren't, I don't think are going to be available for the spring, last I heard. Right. Bo Jackson and Isaiah west. And so I'm just worried. I'm just curious about what Jacoby Jackson could bring because he looks like a tough guy, you know, and so they need that depth at the running back spot from a lean on. But I'm just curious about him. I was going to say Cal Parker, but we kind of covered him and the kid from UT San Antonio in the same breath there. But so, so I'm going to say Jacoby Jackson. Final Answer Big thanks to our sponsor BetterHelp for partnering with us for this
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- [17:42]
Doug
Landis, what are you saying?
- [17:44]
Bill Landis
I am the receivers. I would lump them both together. There are no rules here. We can do whatever do Whatever we want. Yeah.
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Doug
You know, Tim's on the show. There's no rules.
- [17:53]
Bill Landis
That's right. I think Marcus raises a great point about. You just want to see just sort of generally if they look like they belong at Ohio State, I want to see what kind of juice is there. I think Ohio State needs. Needs some after the catch stuff for both of those guys. And no Kyle Parker, small sample size yards after the catch is like a little better than Brandon Ennis. And that's a guy that played in the slot more than he did outside for LSU last year. So could he share that role with Brandon? What exactly is that going to look like? And then. And then Devin McEwen I think is interesting because he's got, you know, verified very good track speed. Right.
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Doug
But.
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Bill Landis
But does that show up at the power 4 level after. After. I think it did at the group of six level. And I think like I watched a lot of McEwen generally, but they played Texas A M last year. UTSA did. And they couldn't block Texas A M to save their life. So it's not. The quarterback was. Was having a lot of time to throw the ball, but when McEwen got the ball in his hands, he did look a little explosive. So. So. And he's not. I think he probably profiles more as a slot guy too, but he is about 6:1. Like, I think he could play outside for Ohio State, so I'm not sure which of those two guys, I would say has a better chance of breaking through and. And perhaps being, you know, the number two leading receiver behind Jeremiah Smith. I, I could go either way, I guess, on both those guys, but I'm excited to see kind of how that plays out starting in the spring because Ohio State definitely needs a couple guys to step up behind Jeremiah for this passing and to be what it should be.
- [19:21]
Doug
Yeah. Yeah. Mine is the same as Tim's, which is Jacoby Jackson, because I don't know if he's going to be a seventh year guy who's kind of like an honorary coach or. I don't know if he's going to score 10 touchdowns.
- [19:32]
Bill Landis
Yeah.
- [19:33]
Doug
That he's going to be the. The bowling ball goal line back. C.J. donaldson scored 10 touchdowns last year and. And all of like the Ohio State fan base is going to be like, okay, it's fourth and one. It's at the goal line. Right. It's a do or die play and Kobe Jackson is getting the ball with the game on the line against Texas. That's gonna happen. Or is it Going to be like,
- [19:57]
Marcus Hartman
oh, yeah, it wasn't a nice one.
- [19:58]
Doug
Jacoby Jackson came here, he started his coaching career, like, help Carlos Lachlan deal with all these young guys. Like, I. So either way, because he's not as big as C.J. donaldson, he's like 20 pounds lighter than.
- [20:10]
Tim May
Oh, yeah, I'm just talking about, you know, that's sort of like that. Bringing that. But Southeastern Conference swagger, you know.
- [20:17]
Doug
Oh, come on. There is. There's no more Southeastern Conference swagger.
- [20:23]
Tim May
They don't know they got guys that might have it or leaving. So, you know, whatever. I mean, and look at Ohio State, who they picked up at the Portal. Man, it's crazy.
- [20:32]
Marcus Hartman
Bo is not that physical either, you know, I mean, like, the guys they have aren't. I mean, maybe we'll see with. With West.
- [20:38]
Bill Landis
I think Wes quite.
- [20:39]
Marcus Hartman
Seen enough with him, but, yeah, he. He could be more of a. More of a between the tackles type of a runner, but. But. And Bo could get more physical, but he wasn't last year, so.
- [20:49]
Tim May
But the cool thing is we're gonna get to see a lot of Jacoby Jackson, you know, probably in the spring because of the other two guys being banged up and stuff. But. Yeah, you know, I'm just as curious, though, to see that the quarterback, the kid, what's his name?
- [21:01]
Bill Landis
Justin Martin.
- [21:02]
Tim May
Martin, Yeah. I mean, is he. Eli Brick Handler. We're never going to see him. You know what I mean? Or is he. Is he going to factor into the backup quarterback situation? Because I think Tavian Sinclair, I really like. I really like him a lot, and I think it behooves them to bring him along as the backup at minimum this year. So I don't know where y' all fall on that, but, you know, Brick Handler hardly knew you.
- [21:26]
Doug
You know, it is one of those where there's a couple of these transfer guys that could kind of like do nothing because they never get a chance to do anything, or they could actually kind of wind up in roles that matter, because if somehow, obviously, if you're the number two quarterback, you're a turned ankle away from being on the field for Bingo, the Ohio State Buckeyes. So. All right, let's go to the defensive side of the ball. Landis, we'll start with you. We're back to returning guys. Who is the returning defensive player you're most curious to see this spring?
- [21:56]
Bill Landis
I'm gonna go with Riley Pettajohn. I'm not entirely sure. I'm sorry I had to pick the Texas guy with him on the show not entirely sure who Ohio State's best pass rusher is going to be this year, but in 2025 it was a linebacker. And I think it's possible in 2026 it's a linebacker and it could be Riley. We were at the combine last week, and you do the thing where you ask all the guys but like, hey, who's coming up behind you that you're excited about? And Sonny Stiles said that Riley Pettigohn showed some pass rushing upside. I, I'm assuming primarily in practice because he didn't play that much. But there was that Purdue game last year where they did get Riley on the field.
- [22:31]
Tim May
Yep.
- [22:32]
Bill Landis
On passing downs. Asking the rush, asking the spy like it was fine. He didn't do anything spectacular there. But the fact that they chose to deploy him in that role I did think was a little telling about maybe how, how they view him. And I, you could lump. TJ offered in, I think, I think with him together, I, I, I think everybody expects that the Peyton Pierce is going to play a lot at Mike linebacker, and, and the mystery is more about what happens at the other linebacker spot and what they want to do, like with that Arvell Reese on ball, off ball kind of, kind of idea. So it's, it feels like open competition between a lot of guys. But, but Riley Pettigohn's got a lot of athletic upside there that, you know, maybe didn't pop quite as much as you wanted to see it pop as a true freshman, but that doesn't mean it won't happen in year two.
- [23:16]
Tim May
I, oh, no, I'm not next. You're, you're next. Doug.
- [23:18]
Doug
Tim. Tim, you're allowed to talk. Go ahead.
- [23:20]
Tim May
No, I just keep jumping line, man. Go ahead.
- [23:23]
Doug
But you like, you like, but no, we're talking about Riley. You like Riley?
- [23:27]
Tim May
Oh, I like Riley, but I got other guys I can name. I mean, you know, they're, they're, look at all the guys they lost, you know.
- [23:32]
Doug
Well, that's the thing.
- [23:33]
Tim May
So I'll tell you the guy. Okay, I'll reveal my guy. My guy's Edric. The guy I'm really looking at is Edric Houston. Because we were sitting here a year ago thinking, man, he moved to that, they moved him that tackle spot. He's going to blossom. He's going to Free Tech and five Tech people out of the, out of the building and stuff like that. And of course, the first day of preseason camp, he hyperextends that knee. And I'm not sure he ever really totally got back from that. When he did get back, he pressed a lot. Did not become that force. I thought he would become just from guile standpoint as much as anything else because I really like him. Thank y' all do too. I like him so much as a person and stuff, but he's a former five star defensive industry kind of guy. I'm not sure how much his heart was into that switch, you know, deep, deep inside, but I think it's there now and he could really make a huge difference based on the guys they've, they've lost inside. I'm, I'm telling you, not, not he's going to be the nose. But Kate, you know, but Kaden McDonald is a huge loss for this team. Huge loss for this team. And they got, you know, we'll talk about the transfers here in a minute. Just save one of those two guys for me for the transfer deal. But, but the bottom line is Edric Houston. They really need him to step up and be that a five star kind of player, whatever form that takes.
- [24:56]
Doug
And I do think that that's like people were so excited about him last year that it didn't kind of happen the way you expected. And then he can get, he can get forgotten about with all the new guys coming in with kind of the other guys who are popping up. But as you said, there's so many opportunities here. They only have three of their top 10 guys and defensive snaps back. Jaylen McLean, Jermaine Matthews and Kenyatta Jackson. There is so much opportunity here. And again, like, do you think about what people thought of Kaden McDonald and Orville Reese a year ago at this time and what they did as guys who had roles and backups who emerged as one year starters and first round draft picks. It's like, is somebody like that lurking on this roster? I mean, it's Ohio State. It's very possible that somebody like that is lurking on this roster.
- [25:40]
Tim May
That's a great thing about how State, I've said a million times, they've got guys, they always have guys bubbling up, you know what I mean?
- [25:47]
Doug
Percolating, man. Tim, I learned it in one year, my first year on the beat. I was like, how are they going to replace A.J. hawkins? I was like, well that's football. They're never going to recover from this. And then James Laurinaitis was sitting right there and it's like, oh yeah, they're okay. I'll say. Zion Grady did not have like, like land. It's like not great like pass rush numbers in his very limited pass rush snaps last year.
- [26:11]
Tim May
I like this pick. I like this pick. Go ahead.
- [26:14]
Doug
He's gonna get a chance, right? They're gonna see what he's got as a true defensive end pass rusher, are they not?
- [26:20]
Bill Landis
Yeah, they definitely are. Yeah. I mean, he's got a, I think, a tremendous chance to. To be the guy who starts opposite Kenyatta Jackson this year. But he's. He kind of feels like Kenyatta to me, where it's like, you know, he's big, you know, he's strong, he's good against the run. You know, what. What is the ultimate pass rushing upside there, right? And obviously Zion's younger than Kenyatta, so there's still a lot of room to grow. But, you know, there. I mean, you can watch Zion last year and pick out a couple snaps and pass for situations where he is getting after it. It's just like, you know, it's a small sample size. So. Yeah, what can you extrapolate from.
- [26:48]
Tim May
From that, but from Enterprise, Alabama. That's what I like about it.
- [26:52]
Bill Landis
That's right. Yeah.
- [26:56]
Doug
He'll pick you up.
- [26:57]
Bill Landis
Yes, that's right.
- [26:58]
Tim May
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I. I just. That was one of the names I was going to blurt.
- [27:05]
Doug
I'm like, this is one of those, like, guys like that is. When we see it, it's like there's a pop, right? Like, whatever we get deceiving for a couple minutes. It's like, does he just look bigger? Is he moving a certain way? Can you see a pop? Marcus, who's your defensive guy, returning guy here?
- [27:20]
Marcus Hartman
Well, I hadn't. This is an aside. I hadn't thought of Houston as that guy who. It is interesting because it's like last year, it was like, him or nobody. Going into the season, it seemed like, right, they're just going to have a bunch of nobodies or he'll be the guy who's a disruptor. And then it turned out he didn't hardly do anything and they were really good. So that's an interesting, you know, kind of aside, but my guy is actually Jalen Mcclain because I gotta take Caleb Downs at his word. He said he's gonna be the guy next year and he was overshadowed. Caleb said that Caleb was overshadowing Jalen, and so that's. We've got to wash. And most players are just kind of talking, but he's a guy. I sort of take his word for it more, so. Plus, that's very important to have a guy back hurt. There who is more than just there who's, who's a difference maker and at least picking up some of the extra, the many extra things that Downs did without knowing what the two new guys are going to do. Of course, that's the next segment but now I want to see if McLean is just, if he can really live up to the hype that is all of a sudden building around him.
- [28:22]
Tim May
Yeah, yeah, I agree. I like, but I like the way he played last year more and more as they, as the season went on. That's my take.
- [28:30]
Doug
Yeah, let's go to transfers now on the defensive side of the ball and we'll start with me. And there are a lot of options here because there are a lot of guys who are going to be playing for this defense who are new. But the one guy I'm, I think I am most curious about, it's because Bill, you and I were talking a lot about Davis and Igbosin at the combine and you kind of mentioned this. It's. Could Dominic Kelly coming from Georgia after a year there as kind of like a, like, you know, this is not like a veteran guy who's played a bunch of snaps. This is a guy on the rise. It's, it's similar to the Davis and Ignosin thing. Now Davison started his one year old miss and then came to Ohio State and started three years. But what if Dominic Kelly just shows up and is like, like he played some at Georgia but he's great. Like he's sort of like a, more of a, like a high upside, less experienced guy compared to everybody else. And I just, I wonder if he would have a chance to show up and immediately compete for a job in some form or maybe it's not his time. Maybe it's, you know, be on the too deep and then be ready to compete for a starting job next year, for instance. That certainly could be possible, but I'm curious if it might be more than that. Maybe. Tim, who's your guy? I left just Tim. I left so much for you.
- [29:50]
Tim May
I thought we were going to discuss that.
- [29:51]
Doug
I mean, did you want to discuss.
- [29:52]
Tim May
I think you got a killing real quick. I agree. I think the quarterback room, the quarterback situation is curious to me. Let me put it that away. Jermaine Matthews had a couple of moments there, you know, in the, in the Indiana game and the, and the Miami game where you kind of left you scratching your head a little bit, you know. And then of course Devin Sanchez, five star is going to, you figure is going to be the other guy. But you're right about Dominic Kelly. I mean I, he's one of those guys that got in the portal with, with in my opinion, life briefcase. You know what I mean? Yeah. He looks like he could do things for you, just. But I'm very curious about him, you know. You know we're talking about transfer guys right now.
- [30:35]
Doug
Right.
- [30:36]
Tim May
Earl Little Jr. To me is a curious guy because losing Caleb Downs, man, you're losing a guy that seemed like a fifth year player in Caleb Downs, obviously just a third year player, but just I don't you know what he brought to that defense from the standpoint of getting guys lined up and then going ahead and making plays. We've been through that a million times. Right. But he was everything because he could, he could, he could do everything when it took from a mental standpoint, everything it took from getting everybody else lined up, rah rah, standpoint to then go in and making the fabulous play. Whether, whether Earl Little Jr. For example, is that guy, I think remains to be seen. But I think his, his age will help him at exactly the right time. I think with this defense, I mean, I think that's one of the reasons why he was so attractive. Ohio State. Plus I think he's a hell of a player. So I've got my eye on him. Because they desperately need, if it's not Jalen McClain, they need the other safety to step up in that leadership role as much as anything else. Big thanks to our sponsor BetterHelp for
- [31:44]
Marcus Hartman
partnering with us for this important conversation about mental health.
- [31:47]
Steve Smith
This is Steve Smith here, former NFL wide receiver and host of the 89 show on YouTube. So having a counselor and working with BetterHelp, that gives you an opportunity to really start to unpack. But people don't understand when you unpack things, you also open up a box that you're not always sure what's inside. So I think that's why seeing a professional is extremely important. If you need someone to open up to, visit betterhelp. That's betterhelp.com89 to get started.
- [32:17]
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- [32:49]
Doug
Bill, do you think it changes, like, what they think about nickel with Earl Little there? Is he. Is there any philosophical shift or how does he plug in?
- [32:57]
Bill Landis
Yeah, I mean, he, he was my guy as well, because I, I have the same question. I think it's clear and Map Attrition maybe has even said this in the past that in that spot, I think he does prefer more of a safety type than a corner type. Right. So. And I think Lorenzo Styles Jr. Is more of a safety than he is a cornerback in terms. In terms of skill set. So I'm not surprised that they're turning that position over to a guy who's primarily played safety like Earl Little Jr. But like, if you look at where Lorenzo ended up lining up last year, he was still playing in the slot like, 60 of the time.
- [33:30]
Tim May
Yes.
- [33:31]
Bill Landis
And Earl Little in his career has played in the slot like, 14 of the time. So. And I think there are some people at Florida State like, you know, and he can only put so much stock into, like, the opinion of Florida State fans who are mad when a guy's leaving. But yeah, yeah, they thought the idea of playing, of him playing nickel was like, well, that's not going to work because he's not. That's not where he belongs. I don't know that that's true. I thought in watching her Little junior that he. He did have some skills that would translate to that position and how Ohio State use it. Uses it. But it will be, I think, a bit of a different kind of style for. For him. So I think he's, you know, he's the absolute leader in the clubhouse to be the starting nickel for this defense. But I think it will look slightly different to Lorenzo because I think, yes, like, Caleb Downs was the guy who, like, was playing down in the box a lot.
- [34:18]
Doug
Right.
- [34:18]
Bill Landis
And that wasn't really Jayla McLean and that wasn't Lorenzo Styles. Like, who's. Who's like your kind of quasi third linebacker when you're playing two linebackers. Like, the answer last year was Caleb Downs.
- [34:28]
Tim May
Yes.
- [34:28]
Bill Landis
I think the answer this year is going to be. Or a little. Even though he's the nickel.
- [34:32]
Doug
Oh, that's interesting.
- [34:34]
Tim May
Yeah.
- [34:34]
Doug
And it's just. I. I just wonder. I think it's a little bit like offensive line that you understand there are guys who can play, but I'm curious if they might change their mind a little bit about how they piece things together in a certain way, like, as sort of like they had whatever the year was with it, with the offensive line where all of A sudden they like reshuffled guys and dejuan Jones was the right tackle in August. It was like, where did that come from? And it's like, well, we had to sort of move some guys around to get the best people in the best place for everybody. And I wonder if there might be room for that, like Marcus. Do you think there's room for that with this secondary where they could shift some guys around?
- [35:10]
Marcus Hartman
I think for sure, because also those three safety spots, really, they're not. I mean, they can all do different things from year to year. They don't have to slot all those, fit all those guys into a specific role. So there's variables both ways, both in terms of skills and what they actually do with each spot where the guy lines up from play to play. They could end up wanting the boundary guy to be in the box more than he was last year or, you know, dropping the middle guy down or putting the nickel guy back there. So, yeah, I think there's all kinds of variables with that and especially when you're talking about all new people who haven't been in the defense at all that, you know, that was, you know, where you lost the, you know, a lot of those guys in the secondary that were, you kind of thought were the next guys. So now, you know, bringing in. And I feel like, I assume that they feel like they need that savvy and that veteran leadership, but that also, you know, means they're going to have to figure out just kind of who fits where. And there's not a lot of margin for error, as we Learned in like 2022, when you're kind of breaking in guys in this defense as well. So, yeah, I think for sure there's a lot there that could happen.
- [36:20]
Tim May
I think, I think he's very curious, by the way, that Matt Patricia could have gone places, could have left and signed back up, you know, so to speak. Now he's getting, you know, boost, considerable boost in pay, etc. But that he signed up for this challenge, this is a mission. He walked in. I mean, I know they were replacing what, seven, eight starters last year, but it was a different kind of. Those guys had all played a lot, you know, and, and then you. When you got a Caleb Downs, you're working with, and, and you've got this guy, Orville Reese, which you see in him, which the. His predecessor didn't see. Maybe, but. But this is a different exercise now for Matt Patricia. When you're, when you look at replacing three guys on the defensive front who are all going to Be curious who finally ends up playing that way because you don't have a. Like I said, there's no Kaden McDonald out there, at least not yet. And then you look at linebacker. You're placing both of your starting linebackers and then you look in the secondary and the, you know, the two guys you're replacing. Caleb Downs was an All American award winner and Davis and Nigba Nose and was just. If he just didn't grab you, man, he was going to cover you. But I mean, you know, I mean, this is, this is quite the challenge for Matt Patricia compared to this time of year ago. And I don't know if y' all agree or not, but he seems quite fired up about taking on this challenge of like Marcus said, the mix and match game of. Because just what we're not looking at this at a 4 as a 4, 34 or a 4, 2, 5 or whatever defense, the way he mixes and matches things. I'm. I'm just curious about him coming back to accept this challenge as I am. Anything else about this defense?
- [38:01]
Doug
Yeah, Matt Patricia, baby. Should have been an answer along the way. Marcus, who's your answer here?
- [38:06]
Tim May
He doesn't play, though.
- [38:07]
Marcus Hartman
I guess since they're out there, you know, it's kind of the same thing with the receivers. I want to just see if these Alabama transfers, if they have some juice that, that's another spot where, you know, there are three or four guys that kind of went, oh, let's see what they look like next year. And they're gone. And so do these guys replace that talent and do they look different? Do they stand out? I know they're different positions, but I want to see what they look like. Again, I'm taking it literally, like in the spring. How are these guys moving around? Does it look like they're difference makers or if they're just going to be able to plug a spot and not be a weakness or, you know, obviously you'd hopefully be not less than that. So I want to see what those guys look like. And just once in a while, when big time recruits go somewhere and they don't pop right away, it's because they are not the guy they were. Just maybe they, they just matured six months earlier than everybody else and then they plateaued or whatever else. Or it could be that they just didn't click, you know, with it mentally or whatever. So I want to see what those guys look like physically. And because like you say, you know, the, the defensive line, man, what a. I mean, the defensive line Got better. I mean what, you know, what a, what a, what a luxury. But we knew some of these guys, we knew there were a bunch of guys who were waiting in the wings and they're not trying to, I mean the number one thing with the lines is you're trying not to play any second year or first year guys and, and, or, or walk ons. So if everybody is a four or five star recruit and is in at least their third year, that's a good starting point. And so you know, they've managed to avoid that for the most part. And so we'll, you know, we'll see. You know, unless it's a Boso or something like that or Chase Young and so, so that's a good. So I feel like, especially I feel like the plan with the safeties too is well, these guys are at least going to be able to do their jobs, whether they may not be Caleb Downs, but they won't be weak spots. So I feel like with the defense they've managed to, with all the transfers they've assured they shouldn't have any play any place where they just have to put a sophomore or freshman out there who just can't do it no matter how good he's going to be. And, but then how good are they going to be and can any of the returning guys beat them out?
- [40:16]
Bill Landis
So I agree.
- [40:17]
Doug
Talking about James Smith and Quay, we saw those two Alabama guys. Landis, do you have an idea of how you think Russo is going to be employed or is that like something we're gonna have to find out through spring and preseason camp?
- [40:28]
Bill Landis
Yeah, I mean he's definitely got some of that on ball, off ball versatility. He didn't play a ton off the ball at, at Alabama. Excuse me. I think he's probably just more of a defensive end kind of guy if I had the guess for Ohio State. So like I would probably lump him in more with, with Kenyatta Jackson and Zion Grady and Bo Atkinson and like see what that rotation kind of looks like more than I would say like oh, sometimes he'll be playing will linebacker next to Peyton Pierce and, and move down. He could also end up being maybe just like a, a passing down specialty kind of player. We'll see. I think both those guys, you know, have talent. Clearly they were, they were ranked where they were ranked coming out of high school for, for a reason. But the production and frankly like the film doesn't, doesn't match up either. And, and yeah, you know, there's sparks but there's not consistency So I, I'm not sure what to expect from either of those guys.
- [41:19]
Tim May
Yeah, but you know what? I don't know if you agree, Bill, but they need, they need Smith and John Walker to be hits. I mean, they need them to be, they need to be contributors. I don't know if they're going to be, you know, big time stars, but they need both of those guys to be contributors. I'm, I'm, I'm curious to see how they look physically out there. Right. But you know, you leave Alabama, you know, for all kinds of, I guess, reasons and stuff, but, you know, if the pedigree says they should be, they, they passed the look test at some time in their career, which means coming out of high school, etc, and then John Walker to me is the guy who comes in almost with a chip on his shoulder like, hey, you know what? I, I'd play on this level. I played Power 4 and I watched some video of him. I, I like him, but, you know, you're always curious the words curious, because that's what this podcast is about today, is curious because the competition level he's going to face, you know, when you watch video of him from UCF and then you look at he's going to be playing against in the Big Ten just this year, much less Texas, the competition level is going way up.
- [42:27]
Doug
It is like, I think generally speaking, Landis and I have talked about this a lot. FCS and group of six linemen transferring up. I think that that makes a lot of sense, that it's like, if you're big and you can handle yourself, like, you can probably handle a move up. But Ohio State got burned by it with Ethan Onion last year. So like, obviously, so, so there's like, you know what, there's a lot of examples of it working, but also when Ohio State tried it, it did not work at all. And like, it did work with Vic Cutler and like, it did. So, like, I do think, and UCF is different than Rice, but like, you know, I mean, there is a little bit. I think John Walker is a good example of like, yeah, no, this should work. But also I think maybe Ohio State fans are a little on edge about it.
- [43:07]
Tim May
Well, they should be. I mean, you know, until, until they prove it. Yeah. You go back and watch their video from high school, though. All three of these guys we just got through talking about pretty, pretty stout. So.
- [43:16]
Bill Landis
Yeah. Yeah.
- [43:17]
Doug
All right, let's, let's go to the last question. This is not a player question. This is trying to think about the overall talent level of this team. And just for some context here, Bill and I do a thing every year where we talk about like the top 22 Buckeyes. We do it a couple times during the season. We do it at the end of the year after the 2024 season. The guys that we said were the, like the 22 most important Ohio State players that year, there were only eight back for 2025. And then Ohio State went 12 and on the regular season losing 14 of their top 22 players. They're the top 22 players this year. They're going to have 10 back from last year. But they're losing all these first round draft picks. Right. So you would have thought, man, they won the national title, they lost all these guys. And then it felt like, holy moly, they're just as talented, if not more talented. How did they do this? Tim, we're thinking about 2025. We'll start with you. Let's just give that talent level 100. That's the, that's the threshold. 2025. If that talent level of that team was 100 out of 100, just for conversation sake week, what do you expect at this moment? What do you think the 2026 talent level is on a scale of 1 to 100 in comparison?
- [44:32]
Tim May
So lower would be not as much talent, right?
- [44:35]
Doug
Yes. Like if you said four and everybody watching and listening to this would run out in the streets.
- [44:41]
Tim May
Yeah, but if I said like 93.95 only because I'm telling you, dude, I mean, I'm talking about the talent as we saw it. You're talking about at the end of the year, what did I think of that talent pool? And it's 100 is what you're saying, right?
- [44:55]
Doug
Sure. Yes.
- [44:56]
Tim May
McDonald. There's no Caleb Downs. There's, you know, Peyton Pierce is going to be pretty damn good, I do believe. I'm, I'm not gonna name everybody. I, I, I, I'm, I'm curious to see what happens on the defensive front. So I would say 94, 95 compared to, compared to what's leaving, maybe even lower than that to begin the year because there are some guys, some mixes and matching that's going to have to go on. Plus some guys are going to have to truly step up like I think they can, but I would say somewhere between 90 and 95.
- [45:28]
Bill Landis
Okay.
- [45:28]
Doug
Marcus, where are you?
- [45:30]
Marcus Hartman
Yeah, I'm about 90. Especially if we're, if we're talking pretty much raw talent or developed talent, maybe it would be a little bit harder to, to contextualize but because I feel like a lot of the newcomers, the veteran, the veteran transfers, I think probably every one of them is less talented, less physically talented than the guy he's replacing, but they can play. So really, at the end of the day, it doesn't necessarily matter, but I think they're fine. I don't think they're going to have a talent deficiency, but that's also more of a. That's how much talent I think they had last year. So I would say around a 90. But in practice it may not matter. And I think they lost a little bit. I mean, and especially if you think the five star guys that hadn't played that left and I don't know that they replaced them with exactly like, for like talent. But again, it's also splitting hairs when you're talking about recruiting and especially who will end up having better careers. So. But I also think the cherry on top of that is I don't. They'll never have 100 again. No one will ever have a 100 roster if last year was 100 again, unless it's a complete fluke, because it's just going to be impossible to have that much as much talent stacked on top of each other as they're used to the same thing with everybody. And Ohio State is in better position than anybody to, via two or three different avenues, maintain its talent level. But I still think the top level will never be the same. And if anybody wants to freak out about that, I'd say neither will Georgia or Alabama.
- [47:03]
Doug
Yeah.
- [47:04]
Marcus Hartman
Or anybody else.
- [47:05]
Tim May
Or Texas.
- [47:06]
Doug
I think that's, that's a good point. That it's like we always say the best comparison for Ohio State is Ohio State's past. There's a standard at Ohio State and you compare the Buckeyes to themselves, but you do have to understand the context of the sport as we're doing that. And so I think. All right, if Ohio State's down, maybe like everybody's down. Tim, Right?
- [47:24]
Tim May
Yeah.
- [47:24]
Bill Landis
Oh yeah.
- [47:25]
Tim May
I mean, because, dude, things are going to get diluted more and more with the, with the transfer portal situation and you know, the, the double whammy for Ohio State this year was also losing these guys to the NFL draft. So I know they lost a lot of guys last year too. So when you lose a couple of guys, you thought, you know, we're going to finally end up playing some, maybe even growing into the, the spot that you, that you had envisioned for him. Them like Aaron Scott, I mean, like Mylan Graham. It's too bad now he has to trudge across a snow covered Notre Dame campus to go to class. I feel sorry for him. But, but the bottom line is when you, when you lose some of those guys you thought could be stepping up this year because you never know about the step up. But I, before we end this, I, I do want to come back to one, one guy who I'm curious about, but I want to get Yalls take on that. But go ahead and, go ahead and finish your grading.
- [48:12]
Bill Landis
Okay.
- [48:13]
Doug
Bill, what's your, what's your number?
- [48:16]
Bill Landis
I think like 85. Like I'm, I'm a little lower.
- [48:20]
Tim May
Like it's not that out of realm.
- [48:22]
Bill Landis
There are maybe five first round draft
- [48:25]
Doug
picks on this team.
- [48:27]
Bill Landis
If Katie McDonald can crack, can, can, can get through there, there's gonna be five first round draft picks on last year's team. And if I just like quickly, I'm trying to like run through the like the 22 guys I think might play the most for Ohio State in 2026. There's one slam dunk first round pick in Jeremiah Smith and I'm not 100% certain there's another one right now. So not to say that, that, that you know, someone won't rise to that level. Certainly they can. There's a lot of very good athletes on Ohio State's team and we didn't, I don't think anybody would have said there were five first round draft picks on last year's team at this point in the calendar. So a lot of things can change. But we, but we do know now that that team had five, like five this year. If you include Jeremiah, they had six. I don't, I don't think it's going to be quite as high, high end. I think maybe like the, the middle of the roster is, is perhaps stronger maybe than it was last year. But top, top end talent is, is not looking quite the same to me right now. I think Ohio State can still like win a national championship if it's, if it's somewhere between 85 and 90 like we're talking about. But if last year was 100 of 100 like that is as Marcus said. I don't, I don't know how often that's going to happen again with the way that sports going like that. That's quite, quite a deal right now.
- [49:36]
Tim May
So Indiana won it last year.
- [49:38]
Bill Landis
Yeah, like they're not, you know, they're not, they're not full of, they have, they have very good players. They're going to have probably like two or two or three first round picks
- [49:45]
Doug
maybe,
- [49:47]
Bill Landis
but this, this is not quite feeling to that level as we look at the roster right now.
- [49:54]
Tim May
Big thanks to our sponsor BetterHelp for
- [49:57]
Marcus Hartman
partnering with us for this important conversation about mental health.
- [50:00]
Steve Smith
This is Steve Smith here, former NFL wide receiver and host of the 89 show on YouTube. So having a counselor and working with BetterHelp, that gives you an opportunity to really start to unpack. But people don't understand when you unpack things, things, you also open up a box that you're not always sure what's inside. So I think that's why seeing a professional is extremely important. If you need someone to open up to, visit betterhelp. That's betterhelp.com89 to get started.
- [50:30]
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- [51:02]
Doug
But my number is also 85 and I do think maybe like the there won't be the same couple holes here and there and I do think where the talent is might be in more valuable spots and that's primarily an offensive line conversation because it's like well Luke Montgomery and Austin Seravel and all those guys are the same talent but they're going to be more talented because they're more experienced, they're going to be better at their job. You get rid of the weak link. You maybe bring in a guy like Ian Moore who's potentially a super talented guy like as you. I think the highs might not be won't be as high when it comes to individual excellence on the field, but I think there won't be be maybe like a group question mark like there was at times with the offensive line that year. I don't know if there'll be a single question mark here or there and then like Julian saying get better. I think it's really important. So I do think it's very possible that they're like an 85 not as talented but it like where it is matters more and I'm very curious to
- [51:59]
Tim May
see how that emerges with Arthur Smith. By the way. You know, just like with Chip Kelly two years ago, Arthur Smith, I mean Ryan brought Arthur Smith in for a lot of reasonable one is get that running game back going. I mean get the running back game back going from a physical standpoint, etc. And that's. That's what's the most curious thing to me about this transfer portal deal is they picked up one offensive lineman. I think unless my count is wrong, it's a kid from Dartmouth who appears to be. I don't know if he's a project or if he's a prodigy. You know what I mean?
- [52:29]
Bill Landis
I think he's another p. Is a practice body.
- [52:32]
Tim May
Yeah, but you know what I'm saying? I mean that it kind of like didn't make sort of sense because just from a. He may be bigger than what his numbers were listed, what 65280 or 285, 290. But I am just, I'm gonna be watching that guy like does he fit in? You know, does he. I mean you talk about climate shock. I mean he's definitely going to go from climate shock from Ivy League to practice field at Ohio State, you know and so that I don't know if they saw, like I said, a diamond in the rough there or diamond has come on and nobody else has seen it. The hope diamond. You know, maybe you'll call him that, be his nickname. But yeah, I'm just, I'm curious. I don't know what Yalls take was on that but of some of the deficiencies I saw offensive line wise last year where they didn't real feel real comfortable putting anybody else in on occasion and just rode that, you know, that broke back pony a few times. I'm just curious about that pickup. What do y' all think?
- [53:33]
Bill Landis
I think they want to have 16 offensive linemen and they had 15.
- [53:37]
Tim May
So they have 16 now.
- [53:39]
Bill Landis
They added a guy from Ohio to be their 16th. I just like he's £285. Like I don't to your point. Unless he's going to add 20, which maybe he can. Yeah, I just, I don't. He doesn't profile as a guy who's big enough to play at Ohio State.
- [53:52]
Doug
They show.
- [53:52]
Marcus Hartman
I think he's a, he's a lottery pick. A lottery ticket that probably won't hit but is a guy that they at least know can practice and, and show other guys the way. He's obviously smart. If he got a degree from Dartmouth. He was never. He's from Springfield so I covered some of their games and he never, he wasn't like this big sloppy guy who went and lost weight and he was like, I think he was the guy that had to play tight end one year, even though they were saying, no, he's a tackle, but we. We need him at tight end. And, and did it because they were. They went to a state championship three years in a row and then they got to. They would get pummeled by St. Ed's and who had like six defensive, you know, offensive linemen who were like 320 and, and going to Division 1 schools. And then that was where they would fall short because they would have the talent, the skill could be, not the lines.
- [54:38]
Tim May
I think it's like version of Sam Hubbard.
- [54:45]
Marcus Hartman
Maybe he does put on more. Yeah, maybe he does put on. Maybe he. He puts on some more weight. And I mean, I don't, I can't imagine that they're. They're relying on him, but other than. Right. Mean to have to force.
- [54:58]
Tim May
Yeah, that's what I brought it up. I'm just, to me, it's a. Curious.
- [55:01]
Bill Landis
Curious. All right.
- [55:02]
Tim May
Yeah.
- [55:03]
Marcus Hartman
I mean, I can see having some faith in those guys to mature and, and, you know, again, if they just get. And I, you know, I think it may be. If Padilla had never gotten hurt, he would have been the right guard for the last month of the season and yeah, would have been a lot better. So, you know, I think they were just ready to push him in there. And, and so I think they've got again, I think the line is. The line room is just about perfectly situated where they've got like eight guys that are not freshmen or sophomores that could play. And they should all be at least decent, but several of them actually could be a step point where they could be really good. And then they've got the five guys that are purely developmental guys that they don't need to worry about, but you've got to have them in the pipeline and then a few other guys that, that you don't close the door. Them either. I think they've got it situated just about right.
- [55:49]
Bill Landis
Yeah.
- [55:49]
Doug
Room's pretty good. It's pretty good. Tim May, for the people who haven't heard of you, who are like, this Tim guy seems to know ball, but I don't know where he came from. Where. Where can they find you, Tim May?
- [56:00]
Tim May
I'm@fans fanstreamsports.com I mean, the Tim May show featuring Clay Hall. We do. We drop a new one three days a week. Monday, Wednesday and Friday or sometimes Saturday, you know, when I feel like it. But. And of course, I do gigs occasionally on 97.1 the fan and. And even more occasionally on 10 TV but I. I've been doing this covering Ohio State since 1984. And I just realized I've been covering some form of football for. From a new standpoint since late 1973. So that's 50 something years, I think.
- [56:35]
Bill Landis
It's a long time.
- [56:36]
Tim May
It is built. I'm just glad to finally get on. I'm glad to get on the Bad or the Dab show, whatever y' all call it here.
- [56:44]
Bill Landis
This is your second time. I know here before.
- [56:47]
Tim May
I enjoy it.
- [56:49]
Doug
Marcus Hartman, where can the folks find you?
- [56:52]
Marcus Hartman
My. The. My main gig that I get paid for is called Press Pros Magazine, which is not a magazine, it's a website. But the idea with the name is that it's a magazine style and quality writing with pretty much all people who had kind of were established somewhere else and then have come along after working somewhere else, like I did at a daily for a while.
- [57:15]
Tim May
And so newspaper industry implodes. Yeah, exactly.
- [57:21]
Marcus Hartman
Right, right. Well, yeah, we're the only publication in western Ohio, not just Southern Ohio, Western Ohio, that covers Ohio State in person. And we have two people. And also you can read about Ohio State baseball there and basketball. And we've got UD. Hal McCoy covers UD for us. And then we cover. I'll be covering a couple of high school basketball games this week, boys and girls, and then I'm going to the Big Ten women's basketball tournament at the end of the week. So Press Pros is kind of is one of my day job, so to speak. And then I'm also got Cuss Words Sports is my newsletter, which is free. All you have to do is sign up for it kind of. I've been sort of putting the plane together in the air, but basically every Friday I'm doing this week in Ohio State football, which is a roundup of just whatever has been going on in the week. And so sometimes that'll just be all stuff that I gathered and sometimes it'll be like a link to something that they'll did that I liked or I can drop one of your podcasts in there if it's a discussion that I want to refer to or. Or whatever else. So that's, you know, that's a. That's meant to be a mix of analysis and. And do y' all have a. Y'
- [58:36]
Tim May
all have a column in there, as George Carlin would say?
- [58:40]
Marcus Hartman
What?
- [58:40]
Doug
Oh, yeah,
- [58:44]
Tim May
George Carlin would put it.
- [58:46]
Bill Landis
Yeah.
- [58:47]
Marcus Hartman
And. And so. No, not yet. Maybe next time. But I. I am gonna roll out. I'm really. I've started the first Edition. I'm doing kind of regular looks at Jim Trestle's first year. This is the 25th anniversary of his first year at Ohio State. Going through the Buckeye Sports Bulletin archives for that. And I've got one coming up and looking at his first recruiting class, which was mostly guys that he salvaged from Cooper. And then we'll go from there. And I also, you know, Woody Hayes was hired 75 years and like three weeks ago, so work on a feature on that as well, which actually, I think I'll learn a lot on that because I haven't read a whole lot about, like, his first year specifically. So I'm going to go through and research that and archive things and, you know, kind of see what things I can dig up about. About that. So that's a free newsletter. Again, it's several times a week. Cuss words, sports.com. you can see it right there. And just go check that out. You can see something on Friday and then it's sort of, you know, whatever. I feel like I'll have some Reds and Bengals perspective in there from time to time as well.
- [59:50]
Tim May
You did amazing. I mean, people didn't want Woody Hayes to be that coach back then. Did not want Woody Hayes.
- [59:57]
Doug
I'm not afraid to say it wanted Paul Brown back. Good hire.
- [60:02]
Tim May
Good hire.
- [60:03]
Doug
Yeah.
- [60:03]
Tim May
Somebody stuck their neck out.
- [60:04]
Marcus Hartman
Yeah, let's get this guy from Compromise Canada. Yeah.
- [60:08]
Tim May
Yeah. And then Jim Trussell his first year. Man, if they had not made everybody proud at Michigan, a lot of people would have been scratching our heads, man, that. That you needed that win because it was not a great season. But go ahead.
- [60:22]
Marcus Hartman
That was the gist of my first edition of the Trestle thing is that there were multiple columnists that said, oh, wow, we waited three weeks for that. They just hired the guy from Youngstown State. But the. Now all of a sudden, I forget his name. But it was one of the guys that was well known, a couple of guys that continue to be well known from Northeast Ohio both wrote, no, this guy's going to be great. So, like the Youngstown columnist said, no, he's going to be good. And I think the Canton columnist also said, nope, I think this is the guy.
- [60:48]
Tim May
So that's the second night of the search. I told Trestle by phone, you're going to be the guy unless somebody comes out of left field and sweeps Andy Geiger away. And that was Mike Bellotti. But then Mike Bellotti didn't want. Didn't want the job. And allegedly one of the questions he asked was, do Y' all play Michigan every year. I got kicked out of Ned jets the Net jets waiting room as I was trying to. Trying to accidentally bump into him. But that's another story for another day.
- [61:17]
Doug
That would be a good podcast. Places that Tim May has been kicked out of. Yeah, his coverage of Ohio State football. I'm sure that would be fascinating. Bill Landis, what do we have going on, Bill and Doug?
- [61:27]
Bill Landis
Osu.substack.com I am going to probably I split it into two parts, but every year before spring ball, I like to take on the exercise of putting together one thought on every single player on the roster. So that'll spin up offense, defense. Want to go this week and one probably maybe early next week before spring practice actually starts. So you have that to look forward to at Bill and Doug, whatever our thing is called.
- [61:55]
Tim May
I put forth the idea that, you know, the players need to be wearing name tags on the front of their jerseys. Oh, in the spring.
- [62:02]
Bill Landis
Well, they used to do when I was a kid. Across the front of your helmet. They need to bring.
- [62:06]
Tim May
Exactly. But I mean, it's crazy. I mean, this is. This is a roster flip 101, man.
- [62:13]
Doug
It'll be interesting. We'll be out there. We'll be out there. On next Tuesday, March 10, Ohio State Spring football will start coverage from all over the place. We appreciate this audience, as always, for being here, joining us for around the Shoe. We certainly appreciate the time and expertise of Tim May and Marcus Hartman. For Tim and Marcus and Bill, I'm Doug, and that was around the Shoe on the Bill and Doug Show.