Ryan Day comments on Ohio State's approach to defensive line recruiting

As Ohio State started to put the finishing touches on its 2024 recruiting class in the early signing period, the defensive line recruiting came under scrutiny a bit from some recruiting reporters present at coach Ryan Day‘s signing day press conference.

More specifically, the blend of talent on the defensive line from various parts of the country was in question.

A reporter asked whether Ohio State is casting a wide enough net when it comes to searching for developmental talent along the defensive line.

“I think when you say cast a big enough net, I think so,” Day said. “We recruit from coast to coast when you look at our roster just across the board and where guys are from. I think we’re looking from coast to coast. You look at, I guess, on our D-line now, you’ve got a guy from Germany, you’ve got a guy from Seattle, you’ve got guys from different parts of the country.

“So I think we’re looking for the best we can possibly get and the best fit.”

The second part of the reporter’s question centered around why it seems that the Buckeyes can’t get quite as much developmental talent from the Midwest on the defensive line as they do on the offensive line.

The merits of that claim are at least mildly dubious.

A current scan of Ohio State’s roster shows seven of the Buckeyes’ 21 defensive linemen hail from the state of Ohio alone, while that 1:3 ratio holds up in the current recruiting class, as well. The recruiting class boasts three signees, including one from Ohio.

Day seemed to brush aside any notion that Ohio State’s defensive line recruiting in the Midwest is an issue.

“I mean Jack Sawyer‘s from right down the street,” Day said. “We’ve got guys from Ohio. I think everyone wants to come in and develop at a high level. But I think we’ve done a really good job, like you said on the O-line, of identifying those guys and having physical guys that are going to come in and work and want to be at Ohio State and become veteran players.

“I mean two different positions, but I feel like we are casting that net and also developing.”

Suffice it to say, Day doesn’t seem to think a defensive line recruiting issue exists currently.