Ryan Day reveals expectations for Mitchell Melton, where he's at in his injury recovery

After missing his second straight season due to an injury, Ohio State defender Mitchell Melton is likely to slowly ease into things this spring.

The Buckeyes don’t want to rush his recovery back from a torn ACL, knowing he’s on the verge of being completely healthy again for the first time in a while. He missed both the 2021 and 2022 seasons due to injury.

“He’s been cleared for individual drills, but we’re going to kind of hold him to that for I think the majority of the spring if not all the spring,” coach Ryan Day said as the team got ready to start spring ball. “We’ll kind of see how that goes.”

Melton is a former four-star prospect, ranked the No. 322 overall player in the 2020 class as a high school recruit.

He arrived at Ohio State by way of Good Counsel High School in Maryland.

Melton has the potential to be a real difference-maker as a rush end or edge linebacker with his size and skillset. He checks in at 6 foot 3, 245 pounds.

“We’re hoping he can make an impact for us this year,” Day said. “He had a really… before the injury we were excited about him, what he was doing. He’s got really good pass-rush ability, and really good strength and play speed. We’ve just got to be smart and make sure we’re bringing him back the right way.”

As a senior in high school and unencumbered by injury, Mitchell Melton recorded 97 tackles, a team-record 20 sacks, 16 tackles for a loss, an interception, four forced fumbles and eight pass-breakups.”

He was named the WCAC Defensive Player of the year and was a first-team selection as a linebacker. He was also named to NBC Sports Washington’s All-DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) football team.