Ohio State QB Transfer Tristan Gebbia 'Willing To Help' In Spring Practice
Tristan Gebbia knows entering Week 2 of Ohio State football spring practice that he's likely the odd man out.
Still, Gebbia is a teammate first and a quarterback second. He's willing to provide value for the Buckeyes in any way possible prior to the start of the new campaign.
"It's my responsibility to be the best version of myself every day and to help with whatever is needed of me. So whether that be helping guys out, playing, whatever is being asked of me, I need to do that to the best of my ability,” Gebbia said Thursday following Day 2 of camp. “And in order to do that, I have to be able to be the best version of myself every day and just improve every day. That's how I see it.
“If I'm able to do that, I think that I can impress coaches and my teammates and show that I can play at a high level. That's what's important to me.”
Gebbia, a seventh-year transfer from Oregon State, isn't expected to be in the running for QB1. Of course, things could change based on production and injury, but the expectation is that Kyle McCord or Devin Brown will end up leading the first-team offense out against Indiana come Week 1.
Perhaps that's fine with Gebbia. Before transferring to Columbus, he served as the Beavers' primary backup for five years. Prior to that, he spent a season backing up Tanner Lee and Patrick O'Brien at Nebraska under Mike Riley.
Despite having one year of eligibility remaining, Gebbia chose Ohio State over other programs to work with the coaching staff. He plans on coaching following his playing days, so learning from Ryan Day and the ins and outs of Ohio State's high-tempo offense just made sense.
"This has some of the best coaches in the country, obviously, like they do a really good job here," Gebbia said. "Everything is challenging, and you have to strain to be the best version of yourself, and I was really interested in going somewhere where I was gonna be challenged to improve. And I think that that's something that's offered here.”
While there's little to his name, Gebbia has experience over McCord and Brown. Combined, the two backups have started one game in two seasons. In five years with the Beavers, Gebbia started five games, three of which came in 2021.
Gebbia said that while his starts were sporadic in college, his experience in different quarterback rooms should provide value for McCord and Brown. While in Corvallis, Gebbia said the older quarterbacks took him under their wing. Five years later, the super senior wants to return the favor.
"I'll be able to step back and look at the bigger picture and say, ‘Hey, you know, these are the things that we need to do on a weekly basis to give ourselves the best chance to win,’” Gebbia said. “Routine, and having the discipline to go and watch film on this and that, and just being able to be another voice in the room that's almost like a coach."
In a sense, Gebbia is the "extra" coach for the Buckeyes' offense. One in waiting, he'll be the voice of reason following drives from either Brown or McCord. Young players might not listen to coaches, but they'll undoubtedly take instructions from their peers.
Gebbia, who'll turn 25 in June, is closer in age to Brown and McCord, so perhaps constructive criticism will come easier from him rather than the higher-ups.
As for Gebbia, he'll begin his coaching career in a few seasons, but perhaps he views his year in Columbus as an internship — one of which that could end in a Big Ten title and potential national championship. After seven seasons between three programs, Gebbia says his experience will have him prepared for the next chapter of life.
Regarding his current chapter, Gebbia simply wants to help Ohio State win.
"I'm really blessed right now is that I have an opportunity to go and have another chance to play," Gebbia said. "So I'm super fired up about that.”
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