McCord and Brown aren’t leaving
COVER PHOTO: Ohio State quarterbacks Devin Brown (left) and Kyle McCord (right) answer questions from the media after OSU's spring game on Saturday, April 15. Pic by Andy Evans/Columbus Wired.
At least that’s what the two Ohio State quarterbacks said on Saturday afternoon.
Taking to the podium after the culmination of spring practices with the annual spring game, the duo were asked if there was any chance either one would pack their bags and skip town if they weren’t awarded the starting job.
“No,” said Kyle McCord. “When I committed here, I made a promise to myself that I was going to come here and compete. You know, guys will come, guys will go but at the end of the day if you’re confident in your work and confident in your game, then you’re going to be in a good spot regardless of who they bring in.”
Devin Brown echoed McCord’s sentiment.
“That’s never crossed my mind,” said Brown. “I’ve always been a guy that’s going to stick to my word and stick to where I’m at. I’ve always said (that) from the beginning.”
McCord enters his third season as a true junior and seemed to be the incumbent given the fact he not only has one more year of experience over Brown, but he also has game-time experience including one start. He also has the benefit of having played with wide receiver Marvin Harrison, Jr. at St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) High School as the two started for three years with each other for the Hawks.
Last year, McCord appeared in seven games and went 16-of-20 for 190 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. As a true freshman, he played in five games and threw for 416 yards on 25-of-38 passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions. His first game played that year against Akron was also his first start, and he threw for 319 yards which became a new OSU record for single-game passing yards by a freshman in their starting debut.
Brown redshirted last year as a true freshman and did not appear in any games.
However, Brown was seen taking a majority of the first-team snaps throughout several practices including their second scrimmage-type practice on April 1. He also took all of the first-team reps during the second half of practice the weekend before.
Although, head coach Ryan Day said after the April 1 practice that neither had separated themself at that point.
“I’d like to see one of the two really step out and I don’t think we’ve really seen that yet.”
The ability to see who had better spring practices, though, was squashed when he announced on Wednesday that Brown was out after having surgery on one of the fingers on his right hand.
But he still thought McCord looked improved from the start of spring practices on March 7 to yesterday.
“There’s stuff that he wants to look to improve on so we’ll get on the film and figure out what that (is),” said Day. “Overall, 15 practices, there was improvement there.”
McCord finished the game 18-of-34 for 184 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Many in Buckeye Nation are likening this latest QB battle to another hyped situation from five years ago. That’s when redshirt sophomore Dwayne Haskins and fourth-year junior Joe Burrow were looking to take over the spot from departed fifth-year senior J.T. Barrett.
Haskins ultimately won the job and a little more than a month after the spring game concluded - and two weeks after picking up his undergraduate degree - Burrow packed up and shipped out to Baton Rouge, La. to become LSU’s starting QB.
And the rest is history. Haskins went on to have the most prolific Scarlet and Gray single season ever as he set records for passing yards (4,831), touchdowns (50), completions (373) and attempts (533) with the first three stats still standing as Big Ten records. He was named as one of three finalists for the Heisman but finished third to quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa.
Burrow would have a mediocre 2018 season for the Tigers but rebounded in a huge way the next year when he led them to a 15-0 record and national championship while making a pit stop after the regular season to snag the Heisman Trophy. He was selected No. 1 overall in the NFL draft the following spring by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Suffice it to say, all eyes will be on the transfer portal to see if McCord and Brown “stick” to their word as the football spring window opened yesterday.
“I came here and wanted to compete and if that’s not how it goes, that’s how it goes, but I’m sticking around.” said Brown. “I’m still a Buckeye and I want to do everything I can to help this team.”
McCord said being at a school like OSU, competition is the name of the game.
“You’re at a place like Ohio State, you know they’re going to bring in the best quarterbacks, you know they’re going to bring in really good competition and, you know, you have to earn it every single day.”
The current portal window is only open for 15 days and closes on Sunday, April 30.