Scarlet Sunrise: Ryan Day believes this is 'most mature' Ohio State team he's had since 2019

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Ryan Day believes this is ‘most mature’ Ohio State team he’s had since 2019

Ohio State hasn’t been top 20 in both scoring offense and scoring defense the last three years. The last time the Buckeyes achieved that feat was in 2019 when they were top five in both categories. Ohio State averaged 46.9 points per game and gave up just 13.7 points per game.

Even though the Buckeyes didn’t win a College Football Playoff game that season — their run came to a heartbreaking end in a Fiesta Bowl classic against Clemson — they made up arguably the best team of head coach Ryan Day’s soon-to-be-five-year tenure.

Day said Friday during a Big Ten Network interview that this year’s squad has something in common with that group in 2019.

“I like our maturity,” Day said, via BTN. “I think this is probably the most mature group we’ve had probably since ’19, just across the board. Very, very talented. The focus has been on competition, competing, being tough and being smart. And that’s what the team’s focused on right now. But very business like. And, coming off of last season’s finish, a lot of hunger.”

Day was asked to describe what he means by “maturity.” He pointed out that, two years ago, the Buckeyes kicked off their season in a similar fashion: They had a first-year starting quarterback — then C.J. Stroud — on the road at a Big Ten opponent, at the time Minnesota.

“I think there was one or two guys who had ever started a game at Ohio State,” Day recalled, when referencing Ohio State’s limited experience entering the 2021 campaign.

This time around, however, the Buckeyes have returned a horde of not just starters but NFL prospects. Ohio State has a chance to produce its best draft class in program history this year.

“These guys have played a lot of football,” Day said. “So there’s that part of it. But then there’s also just the way that they approach their work every day. I like the way that they’re coming in, I like the way that they’re preparing, I like the seriousness of it. And there are some scars, too, which is great.

“I think that gives us an edge going into the season.”

Where Ohio State doesn’t have experience, though, is at the quarterback position. The two-way race for QB1 is between junior Kyle McCord and redshirt freshman Devin Brown, who, combined, have one start between them. Brown hasn’t even thrown a collegiate pass yet.

They continued to split first-team reps Friday, the eighth practice of training camp.

“I think the more work that they get, the more reps that they get, it paints the picture over time,” Day explained. “At times you walk off the field, and you say, ‘OK, that’s our guy.’ And then come off the next day, and you’re like, ‘That’s our guy.’ So what you have to do is you have to continually get reps and then come up for air. And then kind of sort through it all.”

Day continued: “Some of it’s going to be the numbers — what did it look like in practice, who moved the team, what’s the completion percentage, how many turnovers, did they take care of the ball? And then part of it is the eye test and how the team’s responding to each of the quarterbacks.”

Day named Justin Fields the Buckeyes’ starter on Aug. 19, 2019. Two years later, he officially declared Stroud QB1 on Aug. 21, 2021. So when’s this year’s decision coming?

“I don’t know,” Day said after pausing. “You’d love to have one in the next week. But we’re not going to do it until we feel ready. We’re not going to be held to a deadline. But the last quarterback battles we’ve had, it’s sorted itself out here in the next week.”

Observations from eighth practice of Buckeyes training camp

Ohio State held its eighth practice of training camp Friday, and it was open to the media. Lettermen Row was on site to watch the Buckeyes practice ahead of their Saturday scrimmage.

The morning and early afternoon came with a handful of hiccups, particularly along the second-team offensive line, which struggled mightily. Before head coach Ryan Day spoke to the team after practice, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka gathered a bunch of offensive players and pleaded for more effort from his teammates. After all, Ohio State will be headed to Indiana for the opener in just three weeks.

Nevertheless, there were good things that happened during Friday’s practice, too.

We documented it all, both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

Gene Smith reflects on Ohio State tenure with Tim May after retirement announcement

Gene Smith announced this week that he’ll be stepping down from his position as Ohio State athletic director on June 30, 2024.

Smith has had a remarkably successful and impactful 18-year run at Ohio State. During his tenure, the third longest of any Buckeyes AD, Ohio State teams have won 115 Big Ten titles and 32 national titles.

But, above all else, Smith has taken pride in helping student-athletes grow holistically.

He’s done so while serving as the first Black AD in Ohio State history.

“As an African American back in the day, you didn’t think you’d make it,” Smith said. “You just had to overcome that. And I guess I’m kind of proud that I had that opportunity to make it, and be in the seat as an African American, first Black athletic director at Ohio State.”

To read more about Smith’s Ohio State tenure, go here. You can watch his full 1-on-1 interview with Lettermen Row’s Tim May below:

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 21 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 106 days

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