Ryan Day isn't surprised about Cade Stover's strong start to the season

Ohio State tight end Cade Stover has made some early contributions to the Buckeye offense this season in the team’s first three games. Stover’s new, early production catching the ball may be a surprise to some, but not to head coach Ryan Day, who was asked if he expected him to be as explosive as he’s been in the passing game so far.

“Yes we did, and that’s what we kind of want out of the tight end position and when he’s had his opportunities he’s made plays so far,” Day said. “But you can see first off that he can block, he’s done a good job in protection and now he’s showing what he can do on the perimeter and certainly in run-pass conflicts.”

Stover currently ranks third on the Buckeyes roster in receiving, sitting at 8 eight receptions for 137 yards so far through three weeks. Stover’s three-game stretch has already surpassed his production from the entire 2021 season, where he ended the year with five catches for 76 yards.

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“And he can run, he’s an athletic player, he was a really good basketball player in high school, he’s got good ball skills. When you’re playing tight end you have to do so many different job descriptions, and it’s just a developmental position, but we saw the skill sets in him, personally, I saw it a few years ago,” Day said.

Stover has had an interesting positional journey for the Buckeyes, starting his career as a defensive lineman, then getting moved to linebacker before finding his home at tight end. But even late last season his number was called on again on defense, as he started the final two games of the season at linebacker against rival Michigan and Utah in the Rose Bowl.

“We had a lot of conversations, he kind of has a defensive mentality sometimes and I think his heart was a little bit on defense, but then he realized his ceiling was at tight end,” Day explained. “To his credit, he put his faith in us that we were gonna try to do everything we could to develop him, no guarantees, but so far so good there and he’s gotta keep building on it because he can be a weapon for us.”

His position may have been inconsistent over the years, but his leadership has not been, as he was named one of six captains for Ohio State headed into this season. Hopefully for the Buckeyes, they can keep Stover exclusively at tight end this year and he can continue to make plays for them, as he’s slowly but surely becoming one of CJ Stroud‘s favorite weapons early in the season.