Ryan Day explains CJ Stroud's prototype helmet in spring practice

As Ohio State continues spring practice, starting quarterback CJ Stroud stands out from the crowd with a unique prototype helmet design which the Buckeyes are currently experimenting with during the offseason. While the timetable for a potential debut of the new design remains unknown, the testing process could help make football safer.

During a press conference, Ryan Day spoke about what he has heard regarding CJ Stroud’s prototype helmet and how Ohio State embraces the future with experimental technology.

“I don’t really know a whole lot about it other than just what I’ve been told,” said Day. “They’re always trying to figure out different ways to protect our players and sometimes you like to get feedback from the players on what they see. From what I’ve seen, there’s certainly a wider vision from the facemask. But I know that they try to get that – same thing with some of the cleats – we’ll give a couple guys a couple different pairs of cleats to see how that reacts to their feet and those type of things.

“Guys are always trying to find different ways, and we’re always trying to find different ways to keep our guys safe. So we’ll get some feedback here from those guys on what they think.”

CJ Stroud is a former four-star recruit from the 2020 class, established himself as one of the top NFL Draft prospects in the 2023 class after a solid year as a starter last year. He returns without his top two targets but still has Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a new unit to support him.

Ryan Days talks building on experience

While the 2021 season did not go exactly as planned, not everything was a total bust, with players getting a vital year of experience throughout the journey. Ryan Day explained how the Buckeyes are going to build on that heading into the 2022 season, saying there won’t be as much doubt in his player’s minds.

“Yeah but also these guys are not 20-year vets in the NFL,” Day said. “They have a year under their belt and there’s still a lot of football left for them to learn. But everything, they’re not doing for the first time and that’s good. There’s a reference point to go back to going into this season as opposed to total unknown going into it which I feel like we had last year. When you have that, you have doubt in your mind. That’s just part of it and there’s a reference point for us, that’s important. We still have a lot of football to learn, a lot of work to do moving forward.”