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BONUS: Why Bennett Christian Might Become A Fan Favorite In 2026 · Buckeyes TomOrrow Morning

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Welcome to a very special bonus episode. We have less
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: than two weeks to go till the start of the
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: Ohio State football season, and we have a ton to
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: talk about, and there are just not enough days in
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: the week and shows in the day to get.
• 0:13
  Speaker 3: It all done.
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  Speaker 1: So here's a little bit of a bonus episode for you.
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  Speaker 1: And this is a guy who has been at Ohio
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  Speaker 1: State for a long long time. Bennett Christian, fifth year
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  Speaker 1: senior tight end, one of only three members of Ohio
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  Speaker 1: States twenty twenty two recruiting class to still be active
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  Speaker 1: Buckeyes on the roster, and he's had a really interesting career.
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  Speaker 1: He served a one year suspension at one point, has
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  Speaker 1: not played all that much. He's played twenty nine games
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  Speaker 1: over four years, had only seven catches seventy seven yards,
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  Speaker 1: a couple touchdowns, So not exactly a stat stuffer, but
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  Speaker 1: someone who has just kind of kept showing up for
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  Speaker 1: Ohio State and seems to be playing a bigger role
• 1:01
  Speaker 1: this fall. So got a chance to talk to him
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  Speaker 1: last week and he had a lot of really interesting
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  Speaker 1: stuff to say. And I think as you listen to this,
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  Speaker 1: you may find yourself rooting for Bennett Christian.
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  Speaker 3: This year.
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  Speaker 1: I think there's a lot of stuff he says in
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  Speaker 1: here that is going to resonate with Ohio State football fans.
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  Speaker 1: So I'm gonna let you hear a little bit from
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  Speaker 1: Bennett Christian, who has been here a long time and
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  Speaker 1: you just probably have not heard that much from him
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  Speaker 1: over the years. So we're gonna let him start by
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  Speaker 1: talking about one of the other tight ends, Nate Roberts,
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  Speaker 1: the sophomore who big things are expected of this year.
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  Speaker 1: He's expected to be one of the leading receiving tight
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  Speaker 1: ends for the buck Eyes, and he was asked if
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  Speaker 1: Nate Roberts is just frankly happy to not be the
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  Speaker 1: fullback anymore.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I think he's really happy to not
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  Speaker 2: be fullback all the time. So you know, it's good
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  Speaker 2: to see him grow as a player. You know, he's
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  Speaker 2: like a little brother in May, so really cool.
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  Speaker 1: See another guy who's going to be in that tight
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  Speaker 1: end rotation this year is Mason Williams. He was a
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  Speaker 1: transfer from Ohio University, which immediately gets you comped to
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  Speaker 1: will cast Merrick, who of course was another tight end
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  Speaker 1: transfer from Ohio University who was also somewhat of a
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  Speaker 1: blocking first guy and That is definitely some of you're
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  Speaker 1: hearing about Mason Williams. They like him a lot in
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  Speaker 1: terms of his blocking, which is one of those things
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  Speaker 1: that we'll get you on the field as a young
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  Speaker 1: player at Ohio State. So what are Bennett Christian's thoughts
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  Speaker 1: on Mason Williams.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, I think Mason's just really complete. You know, he
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  Speaker 2: is a really smart player. I think that's the first
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  Speaker 2: thing in we're in the meeting room. He just you know,
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  Speaker 2: he really knows understands ball. So yeah, I think he
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  Speaker 2: just brings in the you know, really a versatile player
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  Speaker 2: that can do a lot of things.
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  Speaker 1: Bennett Christian is obviously the old man in that room,
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  Speaker 1: at least the old man in terms of seniority at
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  Speaker 1: Ohio State. This is Hunter Wilson's seventh season, but his
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  Speaker 1: first one at Ohio State. Wilson and Mason Williams are transfers.
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  Speaker 1: You got Nate Roberts who is a second year player,
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  Speaker 1: and it got a bunch of young guys who really
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  Speaker 1: haven't played a whole heck of a lot. So what
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  Speaker 1: is it like to be a leader in that room?
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  Speaker 3: Now?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I like it, you know, man, I've
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  Speaker 2: been through a lot, seen a lot, you know, been
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  Speaker 2: through or been with a lot of different players, so uh,
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  Speaker 2: you know, I kind of like, uh, you know, motivating,
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  Speaker 2: you know, some of the younger guys and stuff, and
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  Speaker 2: I think they really you know, trust me, and uh
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  Speaker 2: you know it's it's a good challenge, but I really
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  Speaker 2: enjoy it.
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  Speaker 1: Bennett Ristram was also asked about Julian saying and boy,
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  Speaker 1: where has he improved?
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  Speaker 3: Well, sounds like the answer is all of the above.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah. I think he's just he's just really fiery. You know,
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  Speaker 2: he's making unbelievable jaw dropping throws, you know, whereas this
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  Speaker 2: is like, oh my god, this guy. You know, uh,
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  Speaker 2: he's bigger, he's smarter, he's more vocal. So I think
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  Speaker 2: in literally every aspect of his game he's improved.
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  Speaker 1: And it sounds like that is showing up not only
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  Speaker 1: on the field with him throwing and with him running,
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  Speaker 1: but also just in the huddle and on the sidelines.
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  Speaker 2: In the huddle after big play, you know, he shows
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  Speaker 2: a lot more emotion. You know, he's he's a really good, raw,
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  Speaker 2: raw guy, which you know last year is little more reserved,
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  Speaker 2: but now I'm he's just taking a big step as
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  Speaker 2: you know, a vocal, vocal.
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  Speaker 1: Leader, and I can hear people asking does that actually
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  Speaker 1: matter whether a quarterback can be loud and energetic in
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  Speaker 1: the huddle or on the sidelines.
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  Speaker 3: Sounds like the answer is yes.
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  Speaker 2: Well yeah, I mean, you know, I think Will Howard
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  Speaker 2: that was best saying she did was this good guys going.
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  Speaker 2: You know, you know, if this guy calling plays, you want,
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  Speaker 2: you know, you really want to hear them and you
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  Speaker 2: want to feel him in the huddle and stuff. So
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  Speaker 2: I think it does a lot for the offense. You know,
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  Speaker 2: it gets me going, I know that for sure.
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  Speaker 1: Bennett Christian was also asked about his impressions of the
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  Speaker 1: running back room this fall, and this is kind of
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  Speaker 1: an interesting answer because you get a sense for how
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  Speaker 1: guys can end up getting close to other players on
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  Speaker 1: the team in some of the weird ways that can happen.
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  Speaker 2: I love the running back room, you know me and
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  Speaker 2: when I have my shoulder cleaned up or the winner
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  Speaker 2: is me. Bo and Isaiah trained together the whole time,
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  Speaker 2: so he got really close to those two. And you know,
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  Speaker 2: Jacoby's a great player, legends really good, favors gonna be good.
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  Speaker 2: So it's a it's a really good room exciting.
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  Speaker 1: Mentioned off the top of this show that he is
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  Speaker 1: one of three players left from the class of twenty
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  Speaker 1: twenty two in that recruiting class who have been buck
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  Speaker 1: Eyes all the way through. Give you a second to
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  Speaker 1: think about who the other two guys are who might
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  Speaker 1: fit that that description. Okay, times up, Kenyata Jackson, Carson Hinzman,
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  Speaker 1: and Bennett Christian. Those are the only three players left
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  Speaker 1: who are still buck Eyes from that twenty twenty two
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  Speaker 1: recruiting class. So what is it like to be the
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  Speaker 1: last guy's standing.
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  Speaker 2: It's cool because we know we've been here. You know,
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  Speaker 2: a lot of guys either left or we went a
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  Speaker 2: few in the NFL. So and I think those guys
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  Speaker 2: shows a lot of commitment in this age of college football.
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  Speaker 2: And I think we kind of bond over that, you know.
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  Speaker 2: I mean, I'm a buck Eye until I die, you know,
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  Speaker 2: And that's I think those two, the other two, we
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  Speaker 2: kind of all share that, you.
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  Speaker 3: Know, mentioned earlier.
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  Speaker 1: Bennett Christian has definitely had an eventful career at Ohio State,
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  Speaker 1: served a one year suspension at one point. While he's
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  Speaker 1: played in twenty nine games, still only has seven catches
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  Speaker 1: seventy seven yard has a pair of touchdowns in his career.
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  Speaker 1: So what made Bennett Christian decide to stick it out
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  Speaker 1: at Ohio State at a time when so many other
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  Speaker 1: people are hitting the transfer portal?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean again, like, I'm a big believer and
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  Speaker 2: sticking to your word. And so when I signed as
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  Speaker 2: a high schooler, you know, I wasn't planning on going anywhere.
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  Speaker 2: I mean, you know, I've signed them. I'm gonna do
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  Speaker 2: whatever I can, even if it looks bad at times,
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  Speaker 2: which it has. You know, I signed, I made a
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  Speaker 2: deal that I was would be a buck guy no
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  Speaker 2: matter what. So I think that says a lot.
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  Speaker 1: Who is the toughest guy that Bennett Christian is going
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  Speaker 1: up against in practice this fall?
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  Speaker 2: Probably Kenyatta. I think he's taking a big step, you know,
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  Speaker 2: going against him every day or making each other better.
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  Speaker 2: But he's just feels off the ball. When I come
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  Speaker 2: off and strike him, he feels a lot stronger, you know,
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  Speaker 2: a lot you know, thicker, and you know he's really athletic.
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  Speaker 2: He's playing with the best effort I seen him play with.
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  Speaker 2: He's just been here. So probably I would say kJ.
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  Speaker 1: All right, So he mentioned Kenyatta Jackson, who is the
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  Speaker 1: obviously a fifty year senior. There, how about some of
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  Speaker 1: the younger guys. Who are the younger guys that have
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  Speaker 1: impressed him this fall? And he's gonna mention Epi that
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  Speaker 1: would be epicitan alite and also true freshman defensive end
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  Speaker 1: Cary Wilder.
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  Speaker 2: I think the younger guys too that have impressed me
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  Speaker 2: the most has been Epi and probably Cary Wilder. I
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  Speaker 2: think Eppie has put on a lot of weight. You know,
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  Speaker 2: he's understanding, you know, how to play at this level.
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  Speaker 2: And Cary has come out as a freshman and I
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  Speaker 2: think has done a great job. And so I tell
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  Speaker 2: him all the time I'm proud of him.
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  Speaker 1: There's sort of a quick answer that I'm not including
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  Speaker 1: in the show where he says he kind of wants
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  Speaker 1: to model himself after Will kas Merrick.
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  Speaker 3: So what is it about kas.
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  Speaker 1: Merrick's game that made Bennett Christian want to use him
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  Speaker 1: as a model for what he wants to be.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I think, you know, I've always been
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  Speaker 2: a pretty good blocker, but Will he was really good
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  Speaker 2: with his fibis technique, and so we had always talk
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  Speaker 2: about we still do, and now he had a great
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  Speaker 2: game and his season opener, we kind of you know,
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  Speaker 2: talk a lot about, you know, some stuff that he's
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  Speaker 2: thinking about when he's coming off his technique. So yeah,
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  Speaker 2: really that. But I mean, to be a good run blocker,
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  Speaker 2: you have to have a good mindset, you know. I mean,
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  Speaker 2: you have all the technique you want, but if you're
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  Speaker 2: not gonna fire off the ball, you have no chance.
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  Speaker 1: So this is one of these questions that has gotten
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  Speaker 1: some really good answers over the last couple of weeks.
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  Speaker 3: What has Arthur Smith brought to the offense this year?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I think there's this plays off plays
• 8:26
  Speaker 2: off plays. You know, we'll set you up one way
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  Speaker 2: and then come back and it looks the same, but
• 8:30
  Speaker 2: it's a different play and it's just Uh. I was
• 8:32
  Speaker 2: talking to Peyton about it. I was like, hey, man, like,
• 8:34
  Speaker 2: what do you see uh, you know in the middle.
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  Speaker 2: It's just like confusing And he's like, man, this is
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  Speaker 2: like I don't know how defense they're going to stop
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  Speaker 2: is what he said. So it's really exciting to know, uh,
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  Speaker 2: you know that one of our you know, our middle
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  Speaker 2: linebacker sees it, you know, uh and says that, So
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  Speaker 2: I think it'll be really good.
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  Speaker 1: And if you have not really watched these press conferences
• 8:55
  Speaker 1: live before. A lot of times someone will walk up
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  Speaker 1: later and ask a question that's sort of similar to
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  Speaker 1: something that got asked earlier, and this is one of
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  Speaker 1: those cases. He was asked again about sort of sticking
• 9:04
  Speaker 1: it out at Ohio State. What made him want to
• 9:06
  Speaker 1: do that? And just listen to this, This is the
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  Speaker 1: kind of answer that is going to make him, I think,
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  Speaker 1: a fan favorite this year.
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  Speaker 2: You know, I guess it's a little bit of a process.
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  Speaker 2: But at the same time, I mean, I freaking love
• 9:21
  Speaker 2: Ohio State, and I mean whatever they asked me to do,
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  Speaker 2: I'm gonna do it to the best I possibly can.
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  Speaker 2: I mean, no matter, no matter what circumstances look like.
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  Speaker 2: You know, I've you know, obviously I had a suspension
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  Speaker 2: and stuff was really rough at one point, and I
• 9:35
  Speaker 2: could have, you know, looked the other way. But you know, I,
• 9:38
  Speaker 2: like I said, I love Ohio State and always be
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  Speaker 2: about Huy.
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  Speaker 3: So there you go.
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  Speaker 1: You now know Bennett Christian a whole heck of a
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  Speaker 1: lot better than you did about ten minutes ago. Had
• 9:47
  Speaker 1: some interesting stuff to say. I think he's again going
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  Speaker 1: to be someone that I think is probably an easy
• 9:52
  Speaker 1: person for Ohio State fans to root for this year,
• 9:55
  Speaker 1: he will be on the field quite a bit, one
• 9:57
  Speaker 1: of the four guys we're expecting you to see time
• 9:59
  Speaker 1: at tight end. We're gonna be talking about all that
• 10:01
  Speaker 1: over the coming weeks as we count down to kickoff
• 10:04
  Speaker 1: of the ball State game under two weeks away, getting
• 10:07
  Speaker 1: into the home stretch of the off season. We would
• 10:09
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• 10:14
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• 10:47
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