Kirk Herbstreit is a college football analyst for ESPN and the lead voice of “Thursday Night Football.” Before he was the voice of Saturday mornings on “College GameDay,” he was a standout local player who played a key role in connecting two different eras of Ohio State football.
Kirk Herbstreit Reflects on His Playing Limitations at Ohio State
In an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Herbstreit spoke on the difficult shift he faced going from an elite high school player to an inconsistent quarterback at Ohio State.
“I never could do it,” Herbstreit said (9:15), referring to the elite processing required to stay calm in the pocket. “I ran the Wishbone High School offense, reading a triple option. I was like a 4.4 [forty-yard dash] guy and big. I was 6’3″ and 218 pounds, but I could run. And that’s why I could never drop out of going to Ohio State. I had to drop seven steps and run more of a West Coast offense, but I never got comfortable with the drops.
“But I was the one who looked at the primary. It’s uncomfortable, get out, guy, right? So I have such appreciation when I see a guy like Tom Brady or Drew Brees, more the old school guy that has that ability just comfortably to ignore his blind side.”
Herbstreit also recalled a frightening play against USC when Junior Seau came charging from his blindside. Unlike elite quarterbacks who can ignore that pressure, he said he could feel the hit coming, and it ultimately disrupted his ability to read the defense and make the right decision.
According to Herbstreit, one of the most overlooked skills for quarterbacks is the mental side of the game, specifically being able to outthink a defense. He said many modern dual-threat quarterbacks tend to rely on their mobility when plays break down, which can slow their growth as disciplined pocket passers.
As for Herbstreit’s Ohio State career, he was the first player to commit to the Buckeyes after the hiring of head coach John Cooper in 1988. He spent much of his early career backing up starters Greg Frey and Kent Graham. He patiently waited for his opportunity, and that chance finally came in his senior year, when he became the starter.
Herbstreit threw for 1,904 yards and four touchdowns in his final season at Ohio State, earning co-captain honors and being named team MVP. One of the most memorable performances in his senior season came against Michigan, where he completed 28 passes for 271 yards. He often recalls it as one of the most emotional games of his life.
Herbstreit capped his Ohio State career in the Florida Citrus Bowl, where the Buckeyes fell to Georgia. He graduated in 1993 with a degree in business administration before moving into broadcasting and becoming one of the most recognizable voices in college football.
