Ryan Day’s first team as Ohio State’s head coach was the most complete team he’s had in his first four seasons leading the Buckeyes.
That might give Ohio State fans reason for optimism based on one comment he made during an appearance on Big Ten Network on Friday.
“I like our maturity,” Day said. “I think this is probably the most mature group we've had probably since ’19 just across the board. Very, very talented.”
Day pointed to the returning experience across the roster as a reason he is optimistic entering the 2023 season. On offense, the Buckeyes return a pair of proven running backs in TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams, all three starting wide receivers from last season in Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming, starting tight end Cade Stover and starting guards Donovan Jackson and Matt Jones. Defensively, the Buckeyes return a multitude of players with starting experience including defensive end JT Tuimoloau, defensive tackles Ty Hamilton and Mike Hall, linebackers Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers, cornerback Denzel Burke and safety Lathan Ransom.
“You look at two years ago, we went into that Minnesota game, the first game, I think there was one or two guys that have ever started a game at Ohio State. That's so much different this year,” Day said. “You look at Tommy Eichenberg and Steele and JT and Denzel and you go through all the list of Josh Proctor and Lathan Ransom, these guys have played a lot of football. And so there's that part of it, but then there's also just the way that they approach their work every day. I like the way that they're coming in. I like the way that they're preparing. I like the seriousness of it. And there's some scars there too, which is great. I think that gives us an edge going into the season.”
Day made those comments as part of his interview with Big Ten Network host Dave Revsine during the network’s stop at Ohio State for its annual preseason camp tour. In that interview, Day also talked about his hopes of naming a starting quarterback within the next week, how the offensive line is coming together and the impact retiring athletic director Gene Smith has made on him.
Here is a bullet-point rundown of what Day had to say:
- Day said Ohio State has “kind of kept everything the way it was” with the offensive coaching staff even with Brian Hartline replacing Kevin Wilson as offensive coordinator. “It’s just Brian now has a different role in that room. And he's very, very talented in terms of not only what he knows, but also connecting with players.”
- On how close the competition is between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown: “At times, you walk off the field and you say, ‘Okay, that's our guy.’ Then you come off the next day, you're like, ‘That's our guy,” referring to the other player. So what you have to do is you have to continually get reps, and then come up for air, and then kind of sort through it all.”
- Day said he would love to make a decision on a starting quarterback in the next week, but “we're not going to do until we feel ready.” He added: “We're not going to be held to a deadline. But the last couple of quarterback battles we’ve had, it sorted itself out here in the next week.”
- Day said he’s “pleased with where we're at right now” on the offensive line. He said Jimmy Simmons and Luke Montgomery have stepped up to provide competition with Josh Fryar and Tegra Tshabola. “There’s four tackles that are competing like crazy.” He said Carson Hinzman and Victor Cutler Jr. are still competing at center. “I kind of like where we're at right now. But some battles to be won.”
- On the keys to having a successful defense this year: “We have to build the right foundation now, but then also make the adjustments as the weeks go on in September and October, as we make the run in November.”
- Day said he hasn’t thought much about the Big Ten‘s additions of Oregon and Washington but that he thinks they will help Ohio State in recruiting and “I think it's exciting for the Big Ten.”
- On Gene Smith: “The opportunity that he provided me and my family, we’ll forever be grateful for him.” He appreciated that Smith trusted in him to take over for Urban Meyer after the 2018 season without even conducting a coaching search. “He changed my life forever.”
- Day said Smith has “allowed us an opportunity to hire the best staff in America. The answer has always been yes.”
In addition to Day, Big Ten Network also conducted interviews with Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, quarterbacks Kyle McCord and Devin Brown, linebackers Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers and athletic director Gene Smith after Friday’s practice. A sampling of what each of them had to say on BTN:
Brian Hartline
- Hartline says it’s “pretty surreal” to be the offensive coordinator of his alma mater, but “you can’t really get caught up in all that.” ... “If you have asked me seven years ago if this would be the case, I would have laughed at you.”
- On the responsibility he feels as a wide receivers coach: “I feel like every time a player in our room makes a mistake, it's my mistake.” Now that he’s the offensive coordinator, he says he feels that for every offensive player. “It's a blessing, but it's also a responsibility.”
- Hartline said he thinks consistency is the most important trait for the eventual starting quarterback. “Being the same guy every single day is worth its weight in gold in sports. Knowing what you’re gonna get.”
- Hartline said he thinks Justin Frye is “doing a phenomenal job” developing the offensive line.
Jim Knowles
- Knowles said he thinks the biggest difference entering his second year as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator is “the players have a better knowledge of the system. And it allows them to play faster and more aggressive.”
- On the difference between being the defensive coordinator at Ohio State and previous places he’s coached: “The job’s the same. The expectations are a lot different.”
- Knowles said the biggest positive from preseason camp so far has been that the defense is getting its hands on more balls. He says the defensive backs are “playing closer to the receivers, reacting better to the coverages.”
Devin Brown
- Brown said he wanted to wear No. 33 last year as a freshman but the coaches wouldn’t let him, instead assigning him No. 15. They let make the change this year, with Brown choosing to wear No. 33 in honor of Sammy Baugh, the first quarterback inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- On the response to the number change from his teammates, Brown said: “It’s been hit or miss. A lot of guys like it. Nobody really cares at the end of the day. If I like it, that's what matters.”
- On competing with McCord: “We both came to Ohio State because we wanted to compete and play with the best. We knew what we were getting ourselves into ... At the end of the day, we’re still best friends, no matter what. We‘re just having a good time and playing ball with our friends.”
- On throwing the ball to Ohio State’s wide receivers: “It makes life a lot easier when you got guys like Marvin Harrison and Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming. The list goes on and on and on.”
- Brown said C.J. Stroud was his roommate before games and during fall camp last year. “Just to be able to pick his brain and get to see exactly what his routine was and what he had to go through, I feel like it's really helped me, and I feel like it's given me a good chance.”
- On Hartline: “He's energetic. He's always juiced up at practice.”
- Brown said “the offensive line’s been doing a really good job” even though there have been a lot of moving parts at tackle and center.
Kyle McCord
- McCord said he thinks the quarterback competition with Brown has been “really good, really healthy ... he definitely brings the best out of me and vice versa.”
- McCord said he thinks Stroud handled everything that came with being Ohio State’s starting quarterback really well and that it was helpful for him to watch Stroud for the past two years.
- McCord said he thinks the most important job for the starting quarterback is to be a leader for the team.
- On the depth at running back: “I think that is honestly one of most underrated rooms I think on his team. We’ve got really five, six guys that can play.”
Tommy Eichenberg
- On being coached by James Laurinaitis: “I think it's awesome he gets to coach us. Being such a legend here, but also his experience just playing the game as well.”
- On the pressure of dealing with national championship expectations every year: “I think that's what you signed up for when you come here. You want to be the best, you want to go to the best place. The pressure is a privilege ... we love it.”
- Eichenberg said he relaxes by watching TV. He said Flatland Cavalry is his favorite band to listen to.
Steele Chambers
- Chambers said he thinks everyone sticking to their assignments is the key to not giving up big plays this year.
- Chambers said he thinks the most important thing when dealing with the pressure of high expectations is for the Buckeyes to lean on each other.
- Chambers said he relaxes by listening to music. His two “go-to songs” right now are “Palomino Princess” by Tyler Booth and “Creeps” by Koe Wetzel.
Gene Smith
- Smith said he and his wife have had a lot of conversations over the years about when it would be time to retire, and they decided it was time this summer for him to retire next year.
- What he’s proudest of at Ohio State: “Changing our focus and culture around the student-athlete focus. Making sure we focus on developing the student-athlete holistically.” He wanted Ohio State’s athletes to be developed not only as athletes but also in their personal lives.
- He says the new athletic director will need to be patient in dealing with all the changes in the college sports landscape and will need to be an entrepreneur and revenue generator.
- Smith said the Big Ten’s senior woman administrators and deputy athletic directors have been working on an integration plan for USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington. That includes scheduling, “which is probably the most important point.”
- On Big Ten expansion: “I just think people have to be open and understand that change is constant. It's gonna benefit us, no question about it, but change is constant. Embrace it, be patient with it.”
- Smith said he’s excited to be able to spend much more time with his children and grandchildren in retirement.
