Ryan Day addresses where Ohio State stands at right tackle

The Ohio State Buckeyes return plenty of offensive weapons at the skill positions, especially at wide receiver and running back. One of the biggest questions the Buckeyes must answer during the 2023 campaign is how they’ll handle breaking in two new tackles. Recently, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke about where his team stands at the right tackle position, heading into the 2023 season.

“Right tackle. We’ve been moving some guys around to figure out what the right mixture and combination is going to be,” Day began.

“I like the progression that we’re making. I think that when you look at Josh Fryar, look at Tegra [Tashabola], look at [Jimmy Simmons], look at [Luke] Montgomery. All four of those guys are competing at a high level. Zen’s [Michalski] also in there. George [Fitzpatrick] is getting better. But those four guys are competing. And we’re trying to figure out what is the best mixture of right, left, and Justin [Frye] and Mike and the guys are in there working hard to figure that part of it out. I’m encouraged. I’m excited. I think we have a chance to be good at that position.”

There’s no question the physicality across the offensive line will play a critical role in determining the success of Ohio State’s season. They’ve got no shortage of elite skill players at running back and receiver, but they’ll need the bodies up front to block if they want to have a great year.

Day is not only having to shuffle pieces around his offensive line. He recently learned that his athletic director, Gene Smith, will be stepping down at the end of the 2023-2024 athletic calendar year. For more on Day and the man that hired him initially at Ohio State, check out the article below from On3’s Barkley Truax.

Ryan Day has nothing but great things to say about Gene Smith

Gene Smith is the man who hired Ryan Day to be Ohio State‘s head football coach in the first place. It comes as no surprise that the Buckeyes athletic director’s retirement is an emotional one for him.

After Smith announced that the 2023-24 athletic calendar year would be his last running Buckeyes athletics, Day congratulated Smith on his long, successful tenure in Columbus and reflected on the faith that was put in him by the longtime AD.

“I couldn’t be any happier for Gene and Sheila [Smith],” Day said. “What they’ve done in Ohio State, and the 19 years that they’ve dedicated themselves, they poured their heart and soul into Ohio State athletics and just the university in general.

“What I owe him and what my family owes him, I can’t even really verbalize the opportunity to be a first time head coach at Ohio State. And, you know, he trusted me. Our relationship is going to go on forever. There will be a lot of time to figure out what the next phase is and how that goes.”

What Day has done since he has been given that opportunity in 2018 has been nothing short of spectacular. With Day at the helm, Ohio State has produced a 45-6 overall record with a 31-2 record in Big Ten play. It’s also worth mentioning that he has led the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff in three of his first four seasons as head coach.

Day has yet to win it all as head coach — and it would be a perfect sendoff for Smith who has been waiting a decade for another college football national championship.

“He’ll be with us till next summer, but I think today is just an opportunity to reflect on what great work has been done by Gene and we are certainly going to miss him,” Day said. “We’ve got some time to worry about [what happens after that].”

Day remains focus on his duties as the head coach, and said that he will not play a major role in the hiring of Ohio State’s next athletics director.

On3’s Barkley Truax also contributed to this article.