Why Luke Fahey Might Be Better Than You Think

With Julian Sayin sidelined, Ohio State may be turning the offense over to true freshman Luke Fahey. On this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr take a closer look at what Fahey can realistically bring to the Buckeyes — and why the version of him fans saw against Indiana may not be the version they see against USC.

Tony and Tom discuss Fahey’s background, why he climbed the depth chart so quickly, how Ohio State can tailor the offense to his strengths, and why his mobility could actually change the running game and help the offensive line.

They also break down the challenges USC defensive coordinator Gary Patterson could present, how much Ohio State should simplify the offense, and whether Fahey’s lack of experience should outweigh the physical and mental tools that helped him win the backup job.

0:00 — Could Luke Fahey actually be good?
1:32 — The tools are there, but how quickly can he adapt?
2:57 — Why the Indiana game shouldn’t define Fahey
5:25 — Why he should look different against USC
7:33 — How quickly Fahey passed Tavien St. Clair
9:35 — What USC may throw at a true freshman quarterback
12:32 — How Fahey could change Ohio State’s running game
14:47 — How Jeremiah Smith can help a young quarterback
15:40 — What should fans expect from Luke Fahey?

Fahey was a three-star prospect, but he had offers from Oregon, Indiana and Stanford and played in a high-level passing offense in high school. Tony argues that his rapid climb from behind Tavien St. Clair in the spring to the No. 2 quarterback by the end of fall camp says a lot about how quickly he has picked up Ohio State’s offense.

Tom also explains why the Ohio State offense could look different with Fahey — including more movement, quicker decisions, designed quarterback runs and opportunities to escape pressure that might help a struggling offensive line.

And while Fahey struggled in a difficult spot against Indiana, Tony points out that he is still 9-of-13 for 203 yards with two touchdowns on the season, and that one poor emergency appearance shouldn’t necessarily define what he can become with a full game plan built around him.

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