Ohio State Football vs. Akron Preview, Score Prediction, Injury Report & Offensive Rumors

[Music] what's going on Buckeye Nation Oh give me that IO back down in the comments I hope you said it out loud as well I'm Matt Goldman you're watching the Ohio State football report presented by chat Sports Ohio State's 2024 season kicks off on August 31st the akan Zips visit Ohio stadium we'll talk about that on today's show as well the latest news surrounding what's going on in Columbus and Ryan day's team so Ohio State August 31st it's going to be an afternoon game they take on akan Joe Morehead he's going to come to Columbus as the head coach for akan but Ohio state is a heavy favorite 51 points according to Vegas with a 59 point total that's a lot for Ohio State especially their first game of the season not sure if it's going to get there especially the spread maybe the total points but we're going to talk more about Ohio State but first I want to tell you a little about who I am I graduate in May of 2024 from the Ohio State University yes I did say the we do have the right to say that I was a broadcaster for scarland gry sports radio and a Big 10 Network plus so I have a lot of experience but I also grew up a major Ohio State fan third generation Buckeye you see that on your screen shout out my grandparents my mom and dad and now my brother who's a sophomore there Jared just started classes today Buckeye blood runs strong I bleed scarlet and gray so college football is back like this video if you are hyped as college football starts this week it's from Ireland but Ohio state is just less than two weeks away from their football returning to the Horseshoe I'm excited for that one as Ohio state looks to get some Vengeance back starting with akan well how do they do that that's going to be really tough because they have a lot New pieces especially quarterback will Howard but they have to face Joe Mor has I talked about earlier the head coach for akan last time he was in Ohio stadium it did not go well for Ohio State did not go well for me it was my first game as a student Ohio state was playing Oregon CJ Stroud's first game as well one offensive player of the year in the NFL so not too not too bad of a player but Joe Morehead he was the offensive coordinator for the Oregon Ducks Ohio State lost 35-28 a heartbreaker a big loss in 2021 to open the season so that was the end of Ohio State's time in that 202 year now let's shift to 2024 will Howard who transferred from Kansas State Ohio State had plenty of options in the transfer portal for quarterbacks but they chose will Howard who has big 12 championship game experience so he's a power five quarterback so Ohio state has a guy who has been around a power five system which is very big but they could have had other guys as well Dylan Gabriel who went to Oregon who s out to be the best quarterback in the Big 10 or it could have been cam Ward who the University of Miami gave a bag to in terms of nil money Ohio State could have offered that especially because they had a lot of nil money around but they went with Will Howard and looking at the depth chart for Ohio State will Howard who was announced on August 15th as the starting quarterback Ryan Day the head coach of Ohio State said that Howard stood out and that Devin Brown Julian saan Were Far Behind Howard Howard stats in 2023 were exceptional for what he did in the Big 12 however he's a really good runner so we don't even get to see that part very accurate 1% pass completion percentage the touchdowns are pretty solid 24 and then the interceptions not great for a big 12 offense but you know with Ohio State and Ryan day and Chip Kelly who will now be calling a plays for Ohio State this is big for will Howard's development but he also has a ton of weapons which he didn't have at Kansas State trayon Henderson kinan junkins from Old Miss the two-headed monster Judkins was the 2023 SEC freshman of the year and then AA abuka we all know about AA abuka last year really did not do the same production he had in 2022 because a mid-season foot surgery he had Carnell Tate the sophomore is looking to take a bigger step this year especially with Marvin Harrison Jr leaving and then Jeremiah Smith we're going to talk about more Smith later on in the show but jeremi Smith a freak athlete I just talked about the two-headed monster the two running backs Henderson and Chu kids the carry numbers the yards numbers there are really good backs together combined 26 touchdowns between these two last year I think in terms of what Chip Kelly has done as an offensive coordinator and a play caller this is the perfect onew punch you need Henderson has been taking more snaps with the first team that Judkins but I think these two go hand inand and I'm really excited to watch both of them because of the skill set they bring so now a meca abuka who I just talked about with the foot surgery you can see the stats are obviously very altered in 2023 compared to a sophomore campaign in 2022 if you want the sophomore year in Mecca abuka to return this is the year to have him be that guy be the number two that Ohio State really could rely on in terms of just that overall best player on offense for Ohio State 74 receptions in 2022 over a, yards for Ohio State through the air Marvin Harrison Jr is on the team so much talent was on that Ohio State roster and I think with a Mecca in the potential he has the sky is the limit for him and he's also the veteran presidence Ohio State needs to have in that wi receiver room Brian heartline has done a great job developing wide receivers into a first round talent I think this is the year he takes a bigger step now the bigger question is trayon Henderson or meca abuka who's going to have the better season after both players had big injuries last year that sideline them and really altered their stats I want you to type down in the comments 32 for Henderson or two for AA abuka and another weapon that will Howard will have the chance to throw to this year it's Jeremiah Smith the number one overall player in the 2024 247 Sports recruiting class those High School numbers are insane in 2023 90 receptions almost 1,400 yards almost 20 touchdowns just one away that's unheard of and earlier in the winter as a 17-year-old who he enrolled early for Ohio State's offseason program he was named the first ever freshman being iron Buckeye now what is an iron Buckeye you might ask and iron Buckeye is the top 10 performer is a top 10 performer throughout the winter workouts and offseason programs he was named that out of the 90 guys in the program in the top 10 as a freshman as a 17-year-old that's insane to think about is he the next Marvin Harrison Jr maybe I remember when Garrett Wilson was talking about Jackson Smith and jiga saying that's guy's the next guy here at Ohio State and then Jackson says Marvin's the next guy Marvin's talked about Jeremiah Smith saying I've never seen anything like this from that guy of a young age that's pretty incredible think about and we're excited to watch this upcoming year what Jeremiah Smith can do for Ohio State now transitioning the defense the guys that returned that will be on the front lines for the defense Tai Hamilton he had a pretty solid year not that big of a name compared to the other three you're seeing on the screen jtt is what we're going to call him the 247 Sports class of 2021s overall number one player he has not developed into the guy we need him to be but Jack Sawyer is starting to transition that way you see him as well 45 tackles the tackles for loss is what really sticks out for me about Jack Sawyer and the sacks as well because his numbers really got to what we need from Jack Sawyer Ty Williams a guy in the trenches that could have gone to be a second round pick in the NFL draft this year decide to return him and Michael Hall Jr who were the defensive tackles last year they were inseparable like they were insane last year but I think Ohio State who has not had that perennial defensive end someone needs to be that guy the last time we've had that guy was Chase young that was a little while ago I was in high school Jack Sawyer he needs to be the next Nick or Joey Bosa in terms of production in that dominant here at Ohio State make sure you're subscribed as this is the best Ohio State content out there let's beat my boss James Yoder let's be better than the Michigan football report the school up north that's what we're going to call them we don't call them by their names yeah they want a championship that's great soft Championship Aster this is the real year this is the real test no cheating no Conor stallions but let's talk about Ohio State the rest of their defense a top five defense last year the 2023 stats of some of the guys in the DB room Denzel Burke an All-American quarterback his freshman year was insane that guy stood out like a sore thumb on this defense but last year he was pretty solid the pbus ranked number one in the Big 10 you see them right there davic bosam transferred in from ol Miss I called his gamees in high school by the way this guy was a free cathl high school he's even a better athlete in person at Ohio State in the college level he's one of the best quarterbacks in terms of the Run game on defense Jordan hanok very solid came from Clemson a few years ago he really stepped up and was that quarterback number three that Ohio State needed then Leon Ransom a returning Buck guy number eight one of the captains lean is a great player but he's been bogged up by injuries in the past let's see what happens with lean this upcoming future now shifting to akan the opponent the Zips they have a battle going on at their practice facility it's either Taj bolck or Ben Finley the Cal transfer who's going to be the quarterback one well looking at their stats from the past year they're not that great no one's really had insane production when you really think about it Finley threw for 572 yards not a lot of opportunities the rush yards for Finley I mean eight yards that's nothing Taj bolock I think is overall a better quarterback cuz he's more dual threat and he fits what akine is looking for in terms of trying to exploit Ohio State especially the linebackers that's going to be the biggest question for Ohio State's defense also I didn't even talk about the linebackers today that'll be future episodes down the line but for akan last year their offense no bueno they were ranked 130th out of 133 FBS teams in terms of scoring and then their total offense was right there at the 129th Mark I mean that is not good for any football program and that's a big sign for Jim noes the defensive coordinator for Ohio State to be like okay we can take these guys this shouldn't be that hard that's going to be a big thing for Ohio State to get going in their opening game and build confidence for these guys but I'm curious for you guys the score I talked about earlier the spread predicted for me Ohio State vers zaran I think it's going to be a blowout and Ohio State's going to win I believe they're going to win 48- 10 but I am curious what you guys have to say in the comments because this is Ohio State's opening game it's a big performance for the national audience to see and what this National Championship favorite team is going to look like throughout the I know this opponent is not Oregon Michigan or Penn State but this is still a legit division one opponent so I compile a list of the Zip's top defensive players that are returning this year you have defensive end CJ Nunley seven sacks big numbers better than any Ohio State player had in the defensive line this past year so that's something Ohio State needs to take care of especially because that offensive line the right side not too good they have two great linebackers and tavius fish and Brian McCoy they combine for over 15 tackles together and then they have a really good and experienced secondary Devonte gold Nelson Daren Lewis they had a lot of great experience of his pbus Lewis all Mac team last year so this secondary should be pretty good and you're seeing right there the defense overall not that bad in America last year 32 and yards allowed total per game aaran really not that bad at that so that's where Ohio State especially with a new quarterback that could be trouble for the Buckey so look to see what akan can do in this opening game cuz they're going to want to make a statement they're going to want to try and put up points and exploit Ohio State for future opponents and I think this is going to be a big test for both sides of the ball did you enjoy this video I really hope you did because I know Ohio State content is something I love talking about I hope you guys love listening to so hit that like button for me because I really would appreciate and does help the channel grow please follow me on X or Twitter however you want to say ATM Goldman 28 more Ohio State content coming your way I'm going to talk about on Twitter you want to shoot me a DM ask me any questions got any comments about the Buckeyes happy to talk ball all day with you and we'll see you soon go box [Music]