Nuggets from Ryan Day's National Signing Day Press Conference

COLUMBUS — Ohio State head coach Ryan Day met with the local media Wednesday afternoon to discuss the 19 players who have signed with the Buckeyes so far.

Day was asked about NIL, his approach to recruiting quarterbacks and specifics about individual signees.

Here’s a paraphrased rundown of what he said.

• Day said it says a lot about his staff to get seven guys from Ohio and 19 signees so far. He mentioned that these signees put pen to paper for the right reasons — it’s not just a shot at a national title, but it’s also the culture and resources within the Ohio State program.

• When is the right time to go on quarterbacks is a question Day said he and his staff always think about. Day said when you get on someone late like Lincoln Kienholz, you get four years of work to evaluate. That strategy has worked well for Ohio State, Day said. But they aren’t closed off to getting a quarterback early, like they did with Kyle McCord. Day later added that Kienholz looked at Ohio State and said it was an opportunity he wanted to embrace.

• Day reiterated that this is the early signing period. There’s still a lot going on. The class isn’t finished.

• Day said he might have been concerned about the decommitment number 10 years ago, but, in today’s age, a commitment doesn’t mean what it used to. He talked about how the staff tries to keep recruiting players even after they commit.

• Day said times like this give you an idea of where you’re at with the program. He explained that everyone there has been working their tails off. Day called the 19 players who have signed already some of the best in the country. He noted that there aren’t many players transferring away from Ohio State this cycle, and he attributes it to the culture the Buckeyes have. Day emphasized that the program is in a good place even with two straight losses to Michigan — but he acknowledged that Ohio State has work to do, in terms of accomplishing goals it’s fallen short of recently (winning The Game, the Big Ten, etc.).

• When asked about freshman offensive tackle Avery Henry, Day talked about how he and everyone else in the program will help Henry in his fight against bone cancer. Day added that Henry will travel with the team to Atlanta for the Peach Bowl barring any complications. 

• Day said offensive lineman Luke Montgomery has been the leader of this 2023 class and that he will start at tackle someday, but he could play all five positions. Day said Austin Siereveld is going to start at guard someday — Siereveld is really powerful, and his legs are so big, he either has to wear sweatpants or shorts, Day said. Day remarked that Josh Padilla is tough-nosed center, and Miles Walker‘s length and athleticism make him a tackle with good potential. 

• Day said that when he and his staff looked at running back this year, they determined they had pretty decent depth there. He noted that they have to decide if they’re going to move Chip Trayanum — an Arizona State transfer who came over last offseason to play linebacker — over to running back full time. Day said he didn’t feel like they needed to add a RB in this year’s class, however, he touched on how they had Mark Fletcher (who then de-committed in November).

• When asked about edge rushers, Day talked about how Josh Mickens, also a basketball player, is very athletic. Day said they like Jason Moore’s ability to go inside and outside.

• Day said all four of the incoming wide receivers are going to be really good players. All four of them are looking to make an impact right away, he added. Day explained that Bryson Rodgers jumped on board early on, and that Carnell Tate had quite the recruiting process but can hit the ground running. Day said that, from early on, Brandon Inniss had a leadership about him — you could tell how much of a competitor he was, even when he was playing quarterback in high school, Day said. Inniss was a “big catalyst” for the 2023 class and communicated with other commits.

• Day said that, every year, dynamics of recruiting changes. But, in the end, it comes down to relationships — and he thinks the relationships in this year’s class are solid.

• Day said that, between transfer portal and NIL, it’s more important than ever to recruit and develop recruits from Ohio. He said they’ve got some really good players from the state. Nobody stopped recruiting them, up until the last 48 hours, and they stayed loyal, he said.

• When asked about why coaches don’t mention what schools are offering their commits or current players NIL collective money, Day responded by saying it’s just not a road I want to go down. Day said his focus is with the players they do have.

• Jermaine Mathews really impressed Day right off the bat. When he came to camp, he did a great job. It was a hot, competitive day, and Mathews kept going and going, said Day, who was complimentary of how loyal Mathews was during the recruiting process.

• Day said Will Smith Jr.’s story matters, but that it wasn’t going to be the reason they offered him a scholarship. Smith has added about 45 pounds and played with an “unbelievable motor.” Day said that he laid out the standards that Smith would have to live up to — and, now, it’s a no-brainer he could meet those standards. Day mentioned that Smith will be enrolling early.

• Day said he thinks all his players at Ohio State are going to have unbelievable opportunities in the NIL space. Day said he can explain to prospective recruits what some of his current players are doing with NIL. He emphasized that these recruits understand what that means and the potential of that down the road. But he made it clear: “This is Ohio State” — we should be the best in the country, and we will, he said, in reference to NIL.

• Again asked about NIL, Day said the number one focus has to be player development. He said his signees want to beat “The Team Up North” and win national championships. But, along the way, there are going to be changes in their lives, Day said. He discussed how many of them will want to play in the NFL, and he made the point that recruiting is also about where are a player is going to be in 3-5 years, not just where are they are right now, and a lot of these guys know that, Day said.

• Day said that cornerback Calvin Simpson-Hunt should be able to fit in pretty quickly. He said the good thing about coming from the state of Texas and the league Simpson-Hunt plays in, is that you play against high-level competition that prepares you for the next level.

• When asked if he and his staff filled the needs they had, Day said the Buckeyes did “pretty well” in that regard. He identified the need the Buckeyes had at O-Line, given the outgoing NFL talent, and he believes he and his staff accounted for that with this class. Day noted that the secondary needs to continue to be strengthened. He said that they could use another defensive lineman. So, in sum, he said they addressed a good portion of their needs, but they’re not all the way there.

• When asked about transfer activity, Day pointed to how there have been only three Buckeyes players to enter the portal this cycle. He explained that there aren’t as many spots available to bring in more players when you don’t have as many departures. Day said Ohio State will do its best to adapt while trying to fill holes with the 85-scholarship limit in mind. 

• When asked about transfer portal approach, Day said that players have a certain list of things they’re looking for and so do coaches. He emphasized that guaranteeing a starting role to a transfer is not a good idea for maintaining the locker room culture he wants. If you bring in a transfer, they have to compete, he said (noting that it was even the case for quarterback Justin Fields). But Day asserted that the Buckeyes would be foolish to not look toward the portal and upgrade if they can.

• Asked about quarterback recruiting again, Day said the quarterbacks who have success in the NFL, are often the guys who have battled through adversity. Day believes in the development of players, and that’s sometimes forgotten in the transfer portal. He said it’s delicate managing a quarterback room — it depends on when you know who is the starter. Day said that Devin Brown and Kyle McCord have been competing in Peach Bowl practice.

• Day was asked if Montgomery could start at tackle right away. Day said he doesn’t don’t know if he’d want to put that Montgomery but that they’re excited to have him. “We’ll see,” said Day, who noted that it’s a challenge for a young guy but made it clear that he and his staff aren’t going to put it past him.

• Day was asked about Glenville linebacker Arvell Reese, and Day said that when Coach Ted Ginn Sr. calls and recommends someone, there better be a good reason you don’t take him. Day called Reese a “heck of a football player.” Day cited Reese’s work and production, particularly him winning a state championship this year. Day noted that Reese understands Ohio State football.

• Asked once more about Kienholz and quarterback recruiting, Day declared that he isn’t bringing any quarterback in to be a backup. Everybody dreams of playing in the NFL — the challenge is, if you can make it at Ohio State, you can make it anyway, Day said. That’s something they really liked about Kienholz. When he got to Ohio State, he was eager to compete against anyone, Day said.