Which Positions Won't Live Up To The Hype?

Ohio State has plenty of talent entering the 2026 season, but which position groups are most likely to fall short of expectations? Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr examine the Buckeyes’ most vulnerable rooms, beginning with wide receiver. Jeremiah Smith is a proven superstar, but can Devin McCuin, Kyle Parker, Brandon Inniss, or one of Ohio State’s talented freshmen provide the kind of secondary production Buckeye fans have come to expect? They also discuss the uncertainty at cornerback, the challenge of replacing Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese at linebacker, and how Ohio State will adjust in the secondary without Caleb Downs. The Buckeyes have plenty of possible answers, but many of them remain unproven. 0:00 — Welcome to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast 0:28 — Which position group could disappoint? 1:02 — Wide receiver concerns beyond Jeremiah Smith 2:26 — Why replacing Carnell Tate matters so much 3:38 — Cortez Hankton’s first major test at Ohio State 4:08 — Concerns about production from the veteran receivers 4:35 — Cornerback uncertainty and depth questions 6:37 — How portal losses changed the cornerback room 7:42 — Linebackers replacing Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese 9:24 — Resetting expectations for the linebacker room 10:05 — Questions throughout Ohio State’s defense 11:22 — Replacing Caleb Downs in the secondary 13:02 — How nickel concerns could affect cornerback depth 13:20 — Ohio State’s many potential solutions 13:59 — Finding the best fit at nickel 14:34 — Final thoughts and reasons for optimism 15:05 — Supporting Buckeye Weekly and BuckeyeInsiders.com Which Ohio State position group is most likely to fall short of the preseason hype? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, turn on notifications, and give the video a thumbs up to help more Buckeye fans find the show. For more Ohio State football coverage and discussion, join us at BuckeyeInsiders.com.