Ohio State signed an arsenal of talent at certain positions in its 2024 recruiting class, though flips have taken away some of the luster of the group the Buckeyes inked.
Four-star wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan flipped to Oregon on Wednesday and the Buckeyes also lost five-star defensive tackle Justin Scott to Miami (Fla.) on Nov. 29.
Still, the nation's No. 1 recruit in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith stuck with his commitment to Ohio State, as did five-star defensive end Eddrick Houston despite earlier reports that he was sticking with Alabama and the Buckeyes signed three more five-star prospects, including one at quarterback in Air Noland.
Houston and Smith both provided their own drama during the press conference as Day paused to go make a phone call to Houston before his commitment.
Day dove into Ohio State's signees, the shifting landscape of recruiting as a whole and the Buckeyes' outlook at quarterback.
- On Deontae and Devontae Armstrong: "I really feel strongly about the Armstrong twins coming from a great program in St. Edwards. ... You're seeing them play their best football."
- On Mylan Graham: "We recognized him early on in the process ... we think he gives us a lot."
- Day also had high praise for Max LeBlanc. "His film is tremendous. We think he brings a lot of versatility to the team."
- On Jaylen McClain: "He's a guy who was very productive in his high school career."
- On Air Noland: "Special in a lot of different ways. The way he conducts himself, the way he handles himself."
- On James Peoples: "He's strong. He's got great change of direction. ... He's a great player and I think is going to make an impact early on, even in his freshman year."
- On Aaron Scott Jr.: "He had a great season this year. He played quarterback when he needed to, they started off rocky this year."
- Gabe VanSickle is a player Ohio State got involved with late, but Day liked how he looked on film. "We see a really athletic guard who could possibly move into center, but very athletic and has a huge upside."
- On Bryce West: "One of the best corners in the country. He's going to be huge on the back end."
- Damarion Witten could have been a high-end wide receiver prospect, Day said, but he brings a lot of receiving ability to the tight end position. "It started early on when Coach (Ted) Ginn told me, 'This kid is going to be special.' ... He's going to have to grow into playing tight end if that's where he ends up. ... But his length, his size, his ability to play the ball, it's special."
- On whether offensive line or defensive line recruiting fell short of Ohio State's standard: "We try to identify the guys that are the right fit for us and go get them. I really like the guys that we have."
- Day said he will evaluate potential staff changes after the bowl game.
- Recruiting quarterbacks in the modern day can be a roller coaster. "There's a lot of twists and turns along the way. ... You just have to work through those and figure out who the right guys are for you."
- On what it takes for a quarterback like Noland to compete as a freshman: "You don't know until they get in, just how quickly can they learn the offense ... learn from their mistakes."
- Other additions could be made along the defensive line from the portal or before February's National Signing Day, but right now Day is in wait-and-see mode when it comes to whether he's satisfied with Ohio State's depth of additions on the defensive line.
- James Peoples and Sam Williams-Dixon might have to come in and compete for playing time right away with the attrition that's happened in the running backs room. "We know that we've done that before with some freshmen."
- On winning battles against other Big Ten schools like the one for Aaron Scott Jr.: "It's very important and you have to win those battles."
- Evaluating coaches, Day said it comes down to development, recruiting and schematics. "If you're coaching the wide receivers, it should be wide receiver U. If you're coaching linebackers, it should be linebacker U. ... Then the last thing is, schematically, what do you bring to the table?"
- On the shifting landscape of recruiting in the NIL era: "You have to adapt. ... It is constantly changing. ... We certainly all need to sit down and figure out how we can move on in a direction that has guardrails. ... The No. 1 thing for us right now is to adapt and move forward."
- Ohio State always wants to have the "right mix" of recruits and transfer portal additions. Day still said the best way to build a program is through developing recruits, however.
- Day didn't dive into any opt-outs but said he expects a great arsenal of players to play in the Cotton Bowl. "We're going down there to win the game. We've had a good few weeks of practice."
- Day believes that Larry Johnson is still young in his approach and has multiple years of coaching left. He expects Johnson to be back next year. "His wisdom, his experience is the best in the country."
- On evaluating things in December: "One thing we're not going to do is panic and overreact. ... But at the same time, when things need to be changed and need to be addressed, you address them."
- On how he balances both the positives and negatives of a day like today: "You just focus on the guys you have. You don't focus on the guys you didn't get."
- Day said he "thinks" Ohio State casts a big enough net in defensive line recruiting. "We're looking for the best we can possibly get, the best fit."
- On Ohio State's defensive line going forward: "I feel like that room is a good room. ... I feel good about that room, but we'll keep looking at it."
- On Kyle McCord's decision to transfer: "I really don't want to get into it because it doesn't do anybody any good. ... Kyle was respected by everybody here and wish him nothing but the best. ... He'll do well there (at Syracuse), he will."
- When it comes to adding a potential transfer at quarterback, Day said that competition is "very healthy," but he's enjoyed what he's seen from Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz and Air Noland, especially Brown in bowl prep.
- Day added that he's excited to see what Brown does with his opportunity as the team's starter in the Cotton Bowl.
- TreVeyon Henderson's NFL draft decision will have a major impact on how the Buckeyes approach running backs in the transfer portal.
- On whether he feels Ohio State is behind in recruiting the transfer portal: "No. We have a handful of guys that have to make some decisions here. ... We have an opportunity to have a really good group come back next year. That all plays into this. But we're all over this, we've had some guys visit."
- On the"It's not easy, it is chaotic. But as we sit right now, I'm not sure the calendar could be done any different unless you move it up to the summer or the spring."
- It's been a chaotic day for Ohio State holding onto Smith and Houston. "The first beer is going to taste good, I'll tell you that."
- Donovan Jackson tripping over center Carson Hinzman on Ohio State's last offensive play against Michigan gave Day pause for reflection. "That's playing at Ohio State. We're 11-1 and it all comes down to the last few plays of the game. ... That hurts. We've said it before, you've heard me say it, it can come down to one play."
- Day does feel as though Donovan Jackson has had a fire lit under him by the play. "Yes, and he's not the only one. There's a lot of guys that don't want to leave without winning that game."
- Despite all the changes to recruiting with NIL and Early Signing Day and the transfer portal, Day said that relationships still remain a constant in the process. "I think relationships are the No. 1 thing. I learned that early on in this process."
- On Eddrick Houston: "Larry worked hard on this one ... we feel like he's an impact player day one. It was a long process. ... That was a big one for us for sure."
