Former Ohio State Buckeye leverages relationship with Kirk Herbstreit to land new media gig
The Ohio State Buckeyes are well-represented across college football media. This week, their roots expanded just a little bit further as Kirk Herbstreit’s son, Zak Herbstreit, signed with media giant On3. Zak Herbstreit was a tight end for the Buckeyes from 2021 through the 2024 season. Despite Herbstreit not tweeting for almost a year and […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes are well-represented across college football media. This week, their roots expanded just a little bit further as Kirk Herbstreit’s son, Zak Herbstreit, signed with media giant On3. Zak Herbstreit was a tight end for the Buckeyes from 2021 through the 2024 season.
Despite Herbstreit not tweeting for almost a year and a half on his X account and having fewer than 3,000 followers at the time of the announcement, On3 seems to be banking on his lineage to his father for this to work out. He’ll host a new show, Off Script with Zak Herbstreit, which will mirror his father’s role as an interviewer of players, coaches, and other personalities around college football.
“I’m grateful for the path that led me here, and I’m excited to bring real passion, insight, and a player’s mindset to the content that On3 creates,” said Herbstreit.
Zak hasn’t had a role like this previously, but Kirk has been an ESPN mainstay since 1995.
“Zak has tremendous natural talent and has grown up immersed in college sports,” said On3 Founder and CEO Shannon Terry. “His ability to connect with today’s college stars will bring a fresh and authentic perspective to the On3 network. He’ll be traveling each week to the biggest games across the country, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at everything that makes Saturdays the greatest day in sports.”
Herbstreit carved a unique path in college football despite significant challenges. Hailing from Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, where he earned first-team all-region honors with four career touchdown receptions, Zak joined Ohio State in June 2021 as a preferred walk-on.
Standing at 6’2″ and 240 pounds, he showcased his physicality and intelligence on the field. In 2022, he saw action in games against Toledo, Wisconsin, and Rutgers, proving his reliability. However, a heart condition diagnosed in 2023 sidelined him, requiring hospitalization and a recovery period of three to four months.
Despite this setback, Zak remained active with the program, transitioning to a student coach role in his final year and contributing to Ohio State’s 2024 national championship team. An OSU Scholar-Athlete in 2022, he graduated in spring 2025 with a degree in Sports Industry.
