We welcome ESPN college football analyst Tom Luginbill to the JustIn Time Podcast for a nostalgic journey through his remarkable career in football. As Justin’s original football analyst partner from their high school broadcasting days at ESPN, Tom shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories from his unique perspective in the football world. From witnessing Marshall Faulk’s explosive college debut at San Diego State (where his father Al was head coach) to evaluating Kurt Warner before his NFL stardom, Tom offers rare insights into player evaluation and talent development. The conversation takes unexpected turns, including a hilarious recruiting visit story where Trent Dilfer served as his host at Fresno State that ended with an unfortunate “chew-spitter” incident. We explore how growing up as a coach’s son shaped Tom’s exceptional ability to identify talent, his transition from player to broadcaster, and his thoughts on the current state of college football. Join us for this candid, entertaining conversation filled with football wisdom and memorable stories.

⏰ Timestamps:

(00:00:00) - Introduction to Tom Luginbill, ESPN college football analyst and Justin’s original football partner


(00:02:07) - Miller High Life memories and their first broadcast together


(00:05:43) - The unique challenges of broadcasting high school football games


(00:07:49) - Tom’s background in player evaluation and potential front office opportunities


(00:11:53) - Growing up as a coach’s son and being around football from birth


(00:15:57) - Memories of being around Marshall Faulk and other future NFL stars


(00:18:57) - Career decisions and balancing family life with football


(00:21:47) - Tom’s firsthand observations of Marshall Faulk’s incredible talent


(00:25:41) - Stories about Marshall Faulk’s breakout games at San Diego State


(00:30:02) - Tom’s approach to evaluating football talent and what he looks for


(00:34:46) - The Kurt Warner story and Tom’s role in his professional development


(00:39:03) - XFL quarterback evaluation and Tommy Maddox’s comeback


(00:46:06) - The Trent Dilfer recruiting visit story and the “chew-spitter” incident


(01:10:30) - The “Delicate Daffodil” nickname and karaoke adventures


(01:14:46) - Rapid-fire questions about best prospects and evaluation hits and misses

💡Key Topics:

📌 Tom’s journey from coach’s son to player evaluation expert and ESPN analyst


📌 Behind-the-scenes stories about Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, and other NFL stars


📌 The science and art of football talent evaluation at high school and college levels


📌 The evolution of college football recruiting and the impact of NIL and transfer portal


📌 Justin and Tom’s broadcasting adventures and memorable road stories


📌 Tom’s hilarious recruiting visit to Fresno State with Trent Dilfer as his host

🏈 About Tom Luginbill:


Tom Luginbill is ESPN’s National Recruiting Director and college football analyst who has become one of the most respected talent evaluators in the sport. After playing quarterback at Georgia Tech and Eastern Kentucky, he transitioned to coaching and player evaluation before joining ESPN in 2004, where he’s developed a reputation for his exceptional ability to identify future stars while still in high school.

🎙️ About the JustIn Time Podcast:


The JustIn Time Podcast brings you exclusive, in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports and beyond. As veteran broadcasters, Justin brings unfiltered discussions with legendary coaches, professional athletes, and influential figures who share their remarkable journeys and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

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