Photos: Ohio State football hits practice field for first spring practice
COLUMBUS — Football is back at Ohio State as the Buckeyes kicked off the 2022 spring practice slate on Tuesday morning.
Though the weather in Central Ohio had it feeling like the middle of November though. A brisk morning forced the year’s first onto the indoor practice field of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center but it didn’t lessen excitement about getting back to work.
It was a morning full of new faces. Ohio State has four new assistant coaches, a host of new program assistants and 13 new scholarship players working out and preparing for the six-week spring football schedule. It’s a return to the norm for Ryan Day and his program after a wild offseason.
The Buckeyes need the new names and faces to emerge as leaders according to Ryan Day. That’s one of the spring’s biggest storylines for Ohio State.
“So there was momentum that was built coming out of that [Rose Bowl] game, which was what we really hoped for,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “And then as get into March and spring practice, we’re looking forward to seeing these guys right now take on a more prominent role.”
The Buckeyes have one of the country’s most talented rosters, boasting three bonafide Heisman Trophy hopefuls on offense. C.J. Stroud, Treveyon Henderson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba lead the way for Day’s offense but it’s a revamped Ohio State defense that will be in the spotlight all spring. There’s an overhaul coming, spearheaded by new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. It’s a unit that the new coordinator says will be fast and aggressive but one that has to improve quickly.
Top 10
- 1
Kirby Smart calls out CFP
Georgia HC victory laps committee after win vs. Tennessee
- 2
Josh Heupel
Tennessee HC unhappy with refs
- 3
Dave Aranda
Baylor HC will return for 2025
- 4
Florida trolls Brian Kelly
'Don't damage our tables, coach'
- 5New
Travis Hunter
Colorado star heavy Heisman favorite
“There is a lot of pressure,” Knowles said last month. “This is not an entry-level position. To those that a lot has been given, a lot is expected.
“I went into Oklahoma State really believing that when we could get the defense to rise to the level and culture of the offense and the things that they did off the field in the weight room, then we’d be able to compete for a national championship. At Oklahoma State, we were what, two feet short this year, right? But it took four years. It’s not lost on me that I don’t have four years here. This program is ready to win every single game right now. And we have to get the defense to that level.”
Tuesday was just the start of it all for Ohio State this spring.
Lettermen Row was inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and we’ve got the sights and sounds from the first practice of the spring. Check out the photos, including a lot of new faces, below.
Looking for reaction from Ryan Day, Kevin Wilson and Jim Knowles? Check out our YouTube Channel on Tuesday afternoon. The three Ohio State coaches will be streaming live at approximately 11:00 a.m.
When the gallery loads, hover over the first item and then use your left-right arrows to scroll through photos.
