Ryan Day talks depth of wide receiver room, youth movement

Ohio State has almost always had depth at wide receiver, especially over the past few seasons. While the Buckeyes had receivers such as Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba leading the way last season, head coach Ryan Day brings back Smith-Njigba for the 2022 campaign – along with some up-and-comers who are expected to make immediate impacts.

Alongside the return of Smith, who made 95 receptions for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns a season ago, Ohio State’s wideout room also includes names like Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming, Marvin Harrison, Xavier Johnson, Jayden Ballard and Kamryn Babb – giving Day plenty of weapons at the position.

Following the Buckeyes’ Scarlet vs. Gray spring game on Saturday, Day met with the media and discussed the depth of his wide receiver room and the progression of the younger guys in the room.

“I think Emeka’s had a very good spring, Julian’s had a very good spring, I think Marvin’s been very strong – and Xavier Johnson’s been really good for us, as well,” Day said. “The rest of the depth is continuing to build and grow – Jayden Ballard. So, the more those guys can build depth for us … you want to find one, then you want to find two, and eventually you want to get to six guys that you feel good about putting into the game – which is where we’ve been the last couple of years.

“I think we’re still working on getting to six, but these guys are working hard. I think, for the top four or five guys, we feel pretty solid about. For the next couple of months they have to continue to grind because it’s going to be important. We have a couple of guys coming in the summer, some signees, but depth is very important. We’re looking at that all over the field.”

With the spring practice period officially in the books, Ohio State now turns its attention to summer workouts and then to fall camp ahead of its 2022 season, which is scheduled to kickoff Saturday, Sept. 3 vs. Notre Dame in Columbus.