Scarlet Sunrise: Chip Kelly, other Buckeyes assistants to call offense from press box

COLUMBUS — Ohio State is just two days from opening the season with a nonconference tune-up contest against Akron.

Plans for game day are being finalized quickly. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day made the announcement this week that offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, the former head coach of Oregon, the Philadelphia Eagles, the San Francisco 49ers and UCLA, will be coaching from the press box this season.

Day explained his reasoning.

“His plan is to be up in the box,” Day said about Kelly. “I think, for him, being able to get organized up there. He’s got the tablet up there. He’s got his call sheet up there. He can really be clean after every series. I think that’s one of the things two that he and I were talking about was that when you’re on the sideline and you’re the head coach, you have your call sheet, but it’s hard to get your next series ready when you’re doing all these other things.”

Joining Kelly in the box will be offensive analyst and quarterback assistant Billy Fessler, offensive line assistant Tim Drevno and offensive analyst Tony Johnson. Running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, wide receivers coach Brian Hartline, offensive line coach Justin Frye and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey will be on the sideline.

ICYMI: Buckeyes CB Aaron Scott sheds black stripe

Ohio State freshman cornerback Aaron Scott Jr. is learning to play for the Buckeyes behind some of the best defensive backs in the country. Now he can officially say he is a part of that loaded defensive room.

Scott lost his black stripe after practice Tuesday, just a few days before the Buckeyes open their season against Akron.

Scott has been pushing and pushing all offseason, making strides after opening spring with some growing pains. The veteran defensive backs have been impressed with what he has put on the field.

But the Buckeyes are also making sure Scott is ready before injecting him into a game.

“He’s in that mix of stuff,” Buckeyes cornerbacks coach Tim Walton said a couple of weeks ago. “It’s got to play out a little bit more over time. You have to make sure it’s a true evaluation on how it’s going on all situations and all days stacked up.

“… We have a deep room. We have some guys that have experience. We have some good young guys that have talent. They have to gain experience. You’re usually going to do that through game days.”

49 former Ohio State players make NFL rosters

NFL cut day was Tuesday, and the league forced its teams to get down to the 53-man roster limit. Former Ohio State players were on the right side of the cut line much more often than not, too.

A total of 49 Buckeyes made 53-man rosters, while two others begin the season on various exempt lists. That’s 49 former Ohio State players on NFL rosters, not even mentioning the former Buckeyes who transferred to other college programs before becoming pro football players.

Lettermen Row tracked every roster decision and has the full list of former Buckeyes players who will begin the season on active NFL rosters.

READ MORE: Tracking former Ohio State players who made NFL rosters to begin 2024 season

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 2 days
Ohio State at Oregon: 44 days
Ohio State at Penn State: 65 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 93 days

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