Good take IMO. But why do you expect him to close out some big games? He has had plenty of chances and has come up completely empty.
Trace had some wideouts…high end...ones that would fight like the Devil for the ball. And could also obtain done serious YAC.
We have too many (12) receivers. Quality is the issue. I'm surprised that one or two didn't enter the portal.
Ross is very fast. He had a great game against Iowa last year for Troy.
Why is the portal always the answer? There are young recruited linebackers and DTackles on this team. Time to develop them and get them ready to play. Use the portal to supplement depth if necessary but recruit high end players and develop them.
Our recent LB recruiting hasn't been anything special. The only 4* were Rojas in 2023 and Arrington in 2025.
I share your concern about Allar stepping up in our biggest games this coming season. I am cautiously optimistic I guess.
Hell, I just hope that Allar and his teammates can win the home game at the end of September against Oregon that will be breaking in a new qb and many other players. If they manage somehow to win at OSU, I'll consider it to be a big bonus. With that said, this should be the best chance to win at OSU since 2017 or 2019.
If Allar played for Ohio State this past year..he would have been the Number One QB selected in this year's draft... that's as much a testament to their receiving corp than anything...I'll never forget the 1996 Super Bowl where the Steelers with QB Neil O'Donnell lost to the Cowboys...though he (NOD) threw 3 interceptions..the Steelers were still in the game due to some of the incredible catches made by Andre Hastings and Yancey Thigpen...O'Donnel left afterwards to join the Jets in a $25MM deal..lasted only 2 years after going 0-6? , 0-7? his first year..bad offense , execution etc...he was basically done after the Steelers..you put any QB in a great system with excellent surrounding cast..and you will be great...and of course the opposite is true..is Will Howard a 'great" QB ? Jury is out..but he does have a Natty...who wouldn't have been great throwing to those guys LY...it appears this year...Allar should be great this coming year..he has the supporting cast at every position around him...
Exactly--and I'm not saying Allar's perfect. No college QB is--he's going to make mistakes (I actually like the occasional pick because it shows he's willing to take risks unlike in 2023) but he just doesn't have the weapons at WR. He's a better person than me because I would have had my agent on the phone with Ohio State to see if they wanted me lol
I agree, and the staff obviously agrees at least regarding LB.
Because we're trying to win a title do unknowns are too risky. If we're in the portal looking it means they aren't comfortable with the kids. Same reason NFL teams add players via free agency instead on just playing the guys they drafted. The game had changed drastically. For better or worse is debatable but you have to embrace it to contend.
Didn't like the ND pick so much. Not blaming Allar and saying it is all his fault.
Not true.
The ND pick was him trying to do too much at th3 end of the game. Happens to the best QBs...especially when they're young.
Perhaps, but I don’t think the kid from Rutgers or NC will start ahead of Rojas or Deluca. I also fear that some of the younger talented backers on staff could hit the portal after the season if they don’t get playing time.
With all due respect to the kid from Rutgers, I have a hard time believing a former three star with two ACL injuries is going to put us over the top. We have three scrimmages to get our you LBs ready.
Or more likely would have been replaced early in the first season he started due to not throwing the ball down the field, and transferred.
Yep, Franklin is either mortaging the future or forcing himself into perpetual portal reliance if he brings in more transfers and loses the developing talent he seems to be recruiting over.
Point is that if they bring in someone to replace young backups, those young backups with upside potential could leave. I understand the need for depth. We have young linebackers and we will be playing with only 2 linebackers in this defense.
Yep, Franklin would like a little more experience at LB and/or DT. Why not. He has some NIL to attract a couple more players, room on the roster as he has it figured, and why not make the team as good and experienced as possible which helps mitigate the injuries that alway arise.
He may or may not (likely won't) but if the staff is pursuing them that means they believe he's better than their current options
I get the concern but the job is to field the best team--kids will leave--that's just part of it.
We need depth to replace Robinson. That is the basic strategy. Any current LB who gets his undies in a wad over us getting a portal LB to bolster our depth is just afraid to compete or just thinking of himself not the team. We don't need guys with that kind of attitude.
You can't worry about the future. That's a complete unknown. Robinson could have left for more money next year even if he started this year.
