In this episode of The Big Ten Huddle, hosts JR and Jeff McMichael unpack the significant injury to Ohio State’s promising defensive lineman, Eddrick Houston, which occurred on the first day of fall camp. The discussion centers on how this injury could affect the Buckeyes’ defensive line, a position group already lacking depth, and what it means for their national championship aspirations in the 2025 season.

Key Topics Discussed:
Injury Overview: Houston’s injury is introduced, with initial reports suggesting it’s not season-ending, per Pete Thamel’s tweet (00:00:27.690). However, the lack of clarity fuels speculation about its severity.

Impact on Ohio State: Jeff highlights the defensive line, particularly defensive tackles, as the Buckeyes’ primary concern due to limited depth (00:00:57.911). Houston, a sophomore five-star recruit from Buford, Georgia, was expected to be a key contributor (00:01:23.207).

Potential Diagnosis: JR shares insights from sports medicine physician Jesse Morse, who speculated on social media that the injury could range from a right knee hyperextension with a bone bruise (4-week recovery) to a worst-case ACL/MCL tear (00:07:23.065). The hosts lean toward a less severe outcome, estimating a 3-6 week recovery (00:08:05.122).

Depth Concerns: The conversation explores Ohio State’s backup options, including Eric Mensah and Ole Miss transfer Tyjuan Malone, with Jeff noting Malone’s lack of significant playing time as a red flag (00:13:46.802). Will Smith Jr. is mentioned as a potential one-tech replacement (00:14:42.682).

Texas Game Implications: The hosts debate whether Houston will be ready for the season opener against Texas, a non-conference game, and whether Ohio State might limit his snaps to avoid re-injury (00:04:14.580). They also discuss the betting odds, with Ohio State favored by 2.5 points (00:10:49.442).

Transfer Irony: The episode touches on the transfer of Hiro Kanu to Texas, which could create a compelling storyline if he performs well against Ohio State (00:15:08.692).

Useful Timestamps:
00:00:03.492 – Introduction to Eddrick Houston’s injury.
00:00:57.911 – Discussion on Ohio State’s defensive line depth issues.
00:07:23.065 – Speculation on the injury’s nature, citing Dr. Jesse Morse.
00:10:49.442 – Betting odds for Ohio State vs. Texas.
00:13:00.625 – Analysis of Ohio State’s backup defensive linemen.
00:15:08.692 – Mention of Hiro Kanu’s transfer to Texas.
00:15:31.749 – Closing remarks and upcoming show schedule.

Additional Notes:
The episode emphasizes the importance of fall camp for young players like Houston, a sophomore who needs practice reps to develop (00:04:05.655).

JR and Jeff reference past Ohio State injuries, like Jackson Smith-Njigba’s hamstring issue, to underscore the risks of rushing players back (00:05:31.290).

The hosts encourage fans not to overreact to early-season games, citing the 2022 Ohio State vs. Notre Dame game as an example (00:12:39.306).

Additional The Big Ten Huddle Channels:
@TheBigTenHuddleBasketball
@TheOhioStateHuddle

More from JR:
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Read JR's Illinois coverage: https://writingillini.com/author/jrhoades1

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Catch The Big Ten Huddle Football Episodes 3 times a week. Here is when to catch our live or premiere episodes that are about an hour long (eastern time):

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The Big Ten Huddle is a podcast dedicated to providing honest, humorous, and insightful analysis of Big Ten football and basketball. With a focus on challenging the national bias, especially against the SEC, hosts JR and Zack offer unfiltered discussions that engage fans of all Big Ten teams. Though critical at times, they always aim to defend the conference and give credit where it’s due, bringing humor and deep analysis together for a unique listening experience.

Rooted in values of integrity, passion, and community, The Big Ten Huddle strives to become the go-to voice for Big Ten sports fans.

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