If you're a college football fan, chances are Kirk Herbstreit has become a staple of your Saturday mornings. He has been a member ESPN's College GameDay crew since 1996 as the lead analyst of the program.
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Herbstreit was the starting quarterback of the Ohio State Buckeyes, and now his son Zak is following in his footsteps and playing in Columbus.
Zak Herbstreit, a tight end for Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, announced on social media that he is a preferred walk-on for head coach Ryan Day's 2021 roster.
Zak Herbstreit Commits to Ohio State
Zak-
Congrats my man. So proud of you. Chase your dreams. Your family is here to support you and love you all way through. So cool to see you headed to Ohio St. We’re beyond excited for you! https://t.co/taEdYTD5AC— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) December 23, 2020
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Zak Herbstreit didn't receive any scholarship offers from other major programs, so it's not a guarantee he has a real role with OSU, at least initially. If he can prove his talent during practice, there will be more opportunities to shine in games.
The Buckeyes are a consistently competitive program. Riding the arm of Justin Fields, the team reached the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Alabama. Winning a title will do wonders for a school that already boasts impressive recruiting classes.
Other members of the Herbstreit family have college football roots as well.
Zak's twin brothers are both preferred walk-ons at Clemson under Dabo Swinney. Jake plays cornerback, and Tye is a wide receiver.
Zak Herbstreit Scouting Report
(TE) Zak Herbstreit - MBA (6'3 225)@ZHerbstreit
- Strong, physical guy w/ soft hands
- Tough minded, hard competitor
- Finds his way open; Savvy, smart
- Willing, able blocker
- 3rd down; Red zone threatJr 🎞️: https://t.co/VvAlBBrI3g#BigRed #MidTN21 pic.twitter.com/HKdX5e9SMS
— Chris Smith (@CSmithScout) May 26, 2020
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic interfering with games, the high school football season in Tennessee went on. Herbstreit did what he could in limited action: over three seasons, the tight end recorded 345 yards and four touchdowns.
Although his role on offense wasn't a large one, Herbstreit did help Montgomery Bell Academy make the playoffs in 2020, and they finished the season ranked as the 13th-best team in the state.
Zak Herbstreit has the chance to make the most of a great opportunity. He may not have NFL aspirations, but he can start by taking the Big Ten by storm. There have been many walk-on success stories, and Herbstreit is hoping he can be one of them.
