Ryan Day addresses need for players to win competition at both tackle spots

The 2023 NFL Draft left Ohio State in need to completely rework their offensive line with half of their picks coming from that position group. It has the Buckeyes in a position where Ryan Day knows a lot of work is left to be done in that spot ahead of next season.

Day addressed the offensive line, specifically the competitions at the tackle spots, at a press conference last month. He said that they have seen positive things from all the candidates but that, at this point, they couldn’t begin to name a starter at either spot.

“There’s been some good things. We’re not there or ready to name a starter right now. I don’t think either of those guys have stepped up,” said Day. “I still think, at left tackle too, there’s been good things. But to say where we’re sitting right now (is) where we can say those guys are the starters heading into the preseason? (We) can’t do that. (I’d) like to say that but we’re not there. So, a lot of work to be done there the next few months.”

Still, Day wasn’t ready to say that they needed to look to the transfer portal for help. He said that answer would have been far more obvious if it were a serious need. Instead, he and the staff have faith that the players that they need to step up eventually will heafing into next fall.

“I think (the portal) is a conversation to have. We’ve to kind of go through and see how the game plays out, see how that looks on film, take the body of work, and then make some decisions from there. But we’ll kind of have those conversations and see where we’re at,” Day said. “It’s a delicate situation for sure.”

“I think we believe in the guys that we have. Otherwise, we’d say, ‘Yeah, we need to bring in a guy.’ I think we believe in the guys, we know that they can do it. (But) we’re looking for more consistency,” continued Day. “If you rewind it a year from now and I was sitting up here and we were asking about Paris (Johnson Jr.) at left tackle? I’d be concerned. I was. (But) he came a long way and I know these guys can as well…They’re going to have to do that here in the next couple of months.”

Ohio State had Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones selected in the NFL Draft in the first four rounds. The Buckeyes must also replace enter Luke Wypler after he left during the sixth round.

To focus on tackle, though, Day has enough options to put something together here. At this point, senior Josh Fryar would appear to be in the lead at left tackle. He has some more choices to make at right tackle, though, between junior Zen Michalski, sophomore Tegra Tshabola, and transfer Josh Simmons from San Diego State, a player who just committed over the last few days.

It’s not as though Day necessarily feels that the offensive line is ‘behind’ by any means. It’s just, in order to replace that much NFL talent, there’s a lot of work to be done at Ohio State to ensure that that unit is where it needs to be.

“We’re not crazy behind. Do I wish we were a little bit further ahead? Yes. I think we have some work to do. That’s for sure. But they have gotten better,” said Day. “There’s been really good plays, there’s been really good snaps, there’s been great flashes, there’s been good practices. But there’s also been stuff that we have to get better at. I think it’s probably the natural progression of where we are. We always want to be moving along faster, though.”