Ryan Day explains why Ohio State's QB competition is still ongoing
Ohio State is currently in a quarterback competition to try and find a replacement for CJ Stroud. The battle is between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown, both of whom head coach Ryan Day has praised throughout Fall Camp. Still, the Buckeyes don’t have a starter, yet.
At a recent press conference, Day was asked if he believes in the adage, if you have two quarterbacks then you don’t have one. He doesn’t, and he explained why the competition is ongoing.
“No, no. If you had Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady you wouldn’t say that,” Ryan Day said.
According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Kyle McCord and Devin Brown were five-star recruits in the 2021 cycle and 2022 cycle respectively.
“What are we seeing in practice? I think we’re seeing first off in the run game I think they have a pretty good handle of what we’re doing. In the passing game, I think they’ve done a nice job of making good decisions. I think they’re getting more and more comfortable being in the pocket and getting the timing of the passing game,” Day said.
“That’s not something that just happens. It took Justin Fields a little while. CJ had a great feel for it. Dwayne [Haskins], that was something that came pretty naturally to him as well. But I think both of the guys are starting to really feel that rush and anticipate what’s going on.”
Ryan Day explained that one of the most important things that the quarterbacks have worked on is their situational football.
“A big thing for us has been situations. I think I’ve mentioned that before. So, we’ve put them in two-minute situations. Kyle had a really nice drive in the two-minute drill. So did Devin. Actually, there were two touchdown drives in two-minute drills in the scrimmage on Saturday. Those are good signs. When you’re seeing them play the game, when you’re seeing them win third down, in the red zone, two-minute, because that’s where you make your money as a quarterback,” Day said.
“And we’re seeing some real improvement in those areas. Now, we’ve got to go put it on the field and you don’t know when until you get in a game, but those are the areas that we’re seeing the biggest improvement.”
Ultimately, Ryan Day made one thing clear. If they deserve to play this season, they’re going to play.
“But I’ve been in situations, not very many, where you don’t have a quarterback and that’s not a good feeling,” Day said. “We’re going to have a quarterback and we may have two. And if they deserve to play, they’re going to play.”
Ryan Day on where the QB competition stands
Ryan Day made it clear that both players were excellent in the most recent scrimmage. He also thinks that both are improving. The problem is that neither has won the job yet.
“So both graded out champions in the last scrimmage. Both have gotten better. But to this point right now, I mean, as honestly as I can say it, there’s not one that won the job. There’s not one that’s lost the job,” Day said.
“There’s been times over this camp where I’ve felt like one was going to take over and the other one came back. It was like a horse race and they just kept pulling away and then the other one would catch up.”