Buckeye progress report: Ryan Day presser week 3
COVER PHOTO: Ohio State head coach Ryan Day walks the sidelines during the 2023 annual spring game in Ohio Stadium. Photo by Sam Fahmi/Columbus Wired.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day took to the podium at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Monday and gave an update to where his team is at heading into week 3 of fall camp practices after their scrimmage on Saturday.
QB battle
It’s been the most highly anticipated and scrutinized aspect of the team since the moment former quarterback C.J. Stroud announced he was bidding Columbus adieu for the NFL draft shortly after the Buckeyes’ 42-41 loss to Georgia in the Peach Bowl semifinal.
Now it’s down to junior incumbent Kyle McCord and redshirt freshman Devin Brown.
After Saturday’s scrimmage, Day wanted to see some separation between the two because this is normally the point where the head coach feels comfortable naming a starter.
But that apparently didn’t happen.
“You’d like a sizable gap to name a starter, for sure,” Day said to the first question he received during the 39-minute press conference. “It’s hard to name somebody when there isn’t a significant gap. We are looking for someone to emerge.”
McCord seems to be the logical choice given his two years of experience in the system over Brown’s one year as well as having more gametime action. McCord appeared in seven games last year going 16-of-20 for 190 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions and played five games as a true freshman, which included a start in game four against Akron where he set a record for passing yards by a freshman in their first-ever start with 319. It was the first game he had ever appeared in as a collegian.
Brown played in two games last year (Toledo, Rutgers) where he logged one stat: a one-yard rush against the Rockets.
“There have been good things and there have been things they want back,” Day said regarding the competition. “I appreciate their competitiveness. They’re going at it every day. We are not ready to name a starter right now. The competition will continue this week.”
When asked if he and his staff have thought of going with a two-QB set, Day said it’s something they’re going to mull over this week.
“I think that’s something we have to decide this week, probably, is that, ‘are we ready to name somebody by the end of the week or does the competition continue into the season?’ That’s not ideal but if that’s where we’re at then that’s what we’ll do.”
When it came to Saturday’s scrimmage, Day said the two played well during the first and second down drills but when it came to the “move-it” drills, both floundered at times.
During the third down drills, he said the offense showed improvement even though the defense “won” but their red zone offense was simply, “OK” and neither side of the ball looked “great”.
Ultimately, Day said he needs to see consistency, something that has yet to happen.
“We are looking for consistency there. I keep going back to there doesn’t need to be an extraordinary play. It’s making the routine plays routinely and taking care of the football.”
O-line battle
Another position tug-of-war is who’s going to be the front five blocking for whomever lines up under center, which is one of the positions currently not locked down. Day said right now that competition is coming down between fifth-year Louisiana Monroe transfer Victor Cutler, Jr. and redshirt freshman Carson Hinzman. Both have been seen playing with the 1’s during the last week-and-a-half.
The other two spots are the tackles after starters Dawand Jones (right) and Paris Johnson, Jr. (left) departed for the NFL.
Fourth-year Josh Fryar was seen with the 1’s at left tackle during the spring. Redshirt sophomore Zen Michalski and redshirt freshman Tegra Tshabola were seen alternating with the first team during the spring.
However, Day said last week that he and offensive line coach Justin Frye have been playing around with the setup trying to see some cohesion with who will fit where the best.
On Monday, Day said they’ve been experimenting with Fryar at right tackle but have now included third-year San Diego State transfer Josh “Jimmy” Simmons in the mix and he’s been playing at left tackle.
Day said switching Fryar to the right side gives him more “flexibility” and that he feels more comfortable there.
Simmons didn’t step foot in Columbus until a few weeks ago but has already widened some eyes with his play.
“I think he’s had some really good practices and he’s shown that he can be the starting left tackle,” Day said. “He has not won that job yet, but he has shown traits that make us believe he can be that guy.”
Day also said Tshabola has also been switched to the left.
“We’ve kind of settled into that the last few practices,” Day said. “We felt if we were going to make that move, we had to do it early in the preseason, and I think that’s going to be best for the long term. But we’ll continue to evaluate it.”
Day said ultimately he feels good with where the offensive line is starting to shake out.
“I like the way we’re trending. I think Justin’s doing a great job, and I think we have a chance to have a really good O-line.”
Kourt Williams out for season
The embattled fourth-year’s injury woes continue as Day announced that the newly appointed linebacker suffered an ACL tear and will be out for the year. This is his second ACL injury after sitting out his true freshman year with an ACL tear. He also sat out part of last year with a shoulder injury.
Williams came to Columbus as a four-star prospect out of St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) High School where he played linebacker and was rated as the 11th-best outside linebacker in the country by 247Sports.
After spending the last three years at safety, the staff felt he was better suited to move back to his original role as an LB only to get injured for a second year in a row right after being named a captain last year.
"Really feel awful for Kourt," he said. "I feel he can't catch a break. He's such a great young man, so prayers are out to him. We're all rallying around Kourt."
Backup TE suspended for banned substance
Redshirt freshman tight end Bennett Christian’s chances of seeing some playing time this year have been squashed after a mandated NCAA drug test found a banned substance in his system.
Day informed the media during Monday’s presser that Christian is out for the season. Shortly thereafter, Christian released a statement via his X account.
https://twitter.com/BennettC87/status/1691127895794610176
"He's a great young man who made a mistake," Day said. "He's got a great family, and I commend him for being transparent. He accepts his responsibility and wants to share his story... so others don't make the same mistake."
The test was administered this past January but the team decided not to announce it until Monday.
Christian will be eligible to play again in January.