Ryan Day updates quarterback comeptition heading into fall camp

Ohio State football is just a few weeks away and nobody has higher expectations in 2024 than the Buckeyes. Even so, there is still a question mark surrounding the quarterback position as head coach Ryan Day has not yet named a starter. Five talented guys are in the room while Devin Brown and Will Howard are thought to be ahead of the pack.

Making sure the playing field was level meant Day could not fully name a starter. He wanted to make sure everybody understood the offense. Otherwise, Howard, Julian Sayin, and Air Noland would have been playing behind after not being in the program in 2023.

Now, spring practice and nearly all of summer workouts have been completed. Day wants to go through the first two weeks of fall camp and believes he will have a good idea of who the starter will be then.

“Going into the spring, only Devin and Lincoln (Kienholz) were the only ones who had been in the offense,” Day said Tuesday on Big Ten Network. “Julian, Will, and Air had not been in offense. So, they were a little behind in terms of understanding.

“Now, going into the summer, they’re been in and out for six months. So, I think we’re going to get a true feel for how those guys understand the offense. I think in the first two weeks, we’re going to get a good idea.”

Day could bring the competition into the regular season if he wanted to. Ohio State plays three Group of Five teams to start the year, facing Akron, Western Michigan, and Marshall in Columbus. Some opportunity for all five guys to get reps could be present given the likelihood of blowouts occurring.

Michigan State on Sept. 28 will be the first of nine consecutive Big Ten games for the Buckeyes.

Nobody is doubting the talent surrounding whoever winds up being the starter. The best one-two punch in college football is in the Ohio State backfield, while talented receivers are found from the top to the bottom of the depth chart.

A difference-maker will certainly be needed to get the Buckeyes over the top, though. The same three goals are ahead of Day’s program, beginning with another hotly contested matchup against Michigan. From there, a Big Ten title and national championship are expected.

Whoever winds up being the starter will be tasked with getting the talented roster over the finish line.