Ryan Day assesses how Ohio State became a top destination for wide receivers

Ohio State has become arguably the go-to destination for top wide receiver recruits.

The Buckeyes landed three of the top 10 receivers in the country for the class of 2023, according to the On3 Industry rankings. They also have two of the top receivers in college football for the 2023 season in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. As well as two of the top young receivers in the NFL in Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave.

Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day recently spoke with On3’s JD PicKell about how Ohio State became a top destination for receivers around the country. According to Day, the movement started before he got there.

“I think it started with Michael Thomas before I got here and some of the great wide receivers that have come before – Teddy Ginn – and Brian [Hartline] was certainly a part of that,” Day said. “Just some really good receivers. And then in ’17, as we kind of started recruiting some of the quarterbacks, I think it kind of went hand-in-hand.”

Talented players want to play with other talented players, and Ohio State landing really good quarterbacks certainly didn’t hurt.

The Buckeyes had three eventual top-15 picks at quarterback recently in Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and CJ Stroud. Receivers were lining up to catch passes from those QBs. It also helped that Brian Hartline was able to develop receivers once they got to Columbus.

“Certainly ’18 was a big year for us with Dwayne [Haskins], Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell. Just some unbelievable players in that class,” Day said. “But it all kind of came together with Dwayne, and I think people saw the projection of where the offense was going. Then it went from there with Justin [Fields] and Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson. And now I think people see the blueprint.”

That blueprint also involves playing in a really good system.

The Buckeyes have ranked in the top 15 in passing offense each of the past two years and have a chance to once again in 2023 with a loaded group of receivers.

There’s more help on the way, too. Ohio State has a commitment from the top receiver recruit in the country for the class of 2024 in Jeremiah Smith.

You can make an argument that Day, Hartline and the Buckeyes have now become Wide Receiver U. Day doesn’t see that slowing down any time soon.

“They see what it is, and they see not only the quarterback play and the wide receiver play, but also the positions that we’ve been able to put them in and the development,” Day said. “And I think all of those things go hand-in-hand.”