Freshmen on the Rise: End of the Redshirt Rule Impacting the Buckeyes

Could this be the biggest year ever for Ohio State freshmen?

With the traditional redshirt rule effectively gone, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr discuss how the new “five years to play five” setup could completely change the way the Buckeyes use young players.

Instead of worrying about burning a redshirt year, Ohio State can now get its best freshmen onto the field immediately — especially on special teams. Tony and Tom explain why that matters, how special teams can become a proving ground for bigger offensive and defensive roles, and why more freshmen may have meaningful opportunities than ever before.

They also discuss several first-year Buckeyes already generating buzz, including Jay Timmons, Legend Bey, Chris Henry Jr., Jerquaden Guilford, Khary Wilder, Dre Quinn, and Ohio State’s young defensive tackles.

0:00 — Welcome from Ohio State
0:35 — Why the redshirt change is such a big deal
1:25 — Special teams finally come without a redshirt penalty
2:45 — How special teams can lead to offensive and defensive snaps
4:18 — More games mean more opportunities for freshmen
6:02 — Chris Henry Jr. and Jerquaden Guilford on special teams
7:04 — Jay Timmons continues to generate major buzz
8:10 — Why Timmons looks so advanced for a freshman
8:58 — The NFL bloodlines behind Timmons’ football instincts
10:04 — Legend Bey’s role and return-game potential
11:04 — Why Ohio State may be more aggressive on kickoff returns
12:12 — Which other freshmen could play early?
13:27 — Freshman defensive tackles showing different strengths
14:09 — Final thoughts on Ohio State’s freshman class

Bye bye redshirt rule.

Which Ohio State freshman do you think will make the biggest impact this season?

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