Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes back near full strength as summer workouts wind down

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Buckeyes back near full strength as summer workouts wind down

Ohio State coach Ryan Day met with the media three different times during his day in Indianapolis at Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday.

Each time, he was asked about the health of his roster entering training camp, which opens next week. Day was quite pleased to give the report: the Buckeyes are as healthy as they can be entering camp.

“I think right now it’s only [linebacker/defensive end] Mitchell [Melton] that won’t be available for preseason,” Day said.

Melton suffered an injury in the spring game and isn’t expected to be back until at least late in the season, and he is likely to miss the year.

But other than Melton, the Buckeyes are healthy. And that includes safeties Lathan Ransom and Josh Proctor, who are returning from broken legs suffered a year ago, and Josh Fryar, a key offensive line piece.

Five-star Buckeyes safety target commits to Alabama

July has given the Buckeyes much to cheer about on the recruiting trail, but also much for coach Ryan Day and his staff to internally question their strategies. They hit a new level of stagnance Wednesday afternoon when Caleb Downs made his decision to commit to Alabama over Ohio State in a well-guarded and largely-silent recruitment process.

The five-star Mill Creek (Hoschton, Georgia) safety broke that silence on his recruitment by picking the Crimson Tide despite plenty of optimism from those inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Caleb Downs is the country’s No. 1 rated safety and No. 12 overall player in the 2023 cycle according to On3. His impact as a player and what he brings to the football field make him one of the few prospects in the class that will have him deliver an immediate impact no matter where he goes — especially true had he committed to the Buckeyes.

A quick glance at the safety room into next season will show a potential departure of at least four players, leaving defensive backs coaches Perry Eliano and Tim Walton with the possibility of six in the safeties room plus the two commits in the 2023 class. Downs would’ve made an immediate impact in the room and even push for a chance of serious playing time.

READ: Buckeyes next moves after five-star safety Caleb Downs picks Alabama

Noah Ruggles named to Lou Groza Award preseason watch list

Noah Ruggles was named to the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s top placekicker, preseason watch list. Ruggles transferred to Ohio State from North Carolina ahead of the 2021 season and proved to be a nice addition to an impressive offensive machine.

Ruggles completed 20/21 field goals last season with his longest-made field goal from 46-yards out in Ohio State’s 26-17 win over Nebraska last November. The sixth-year placekicker also made all 74 of his extra points last season for the Buckeyes.

He was a finalist for the award last season but lost out to Jake Moody of Michigan.

Noah Ruggles would be the second Ohio State player to win the Lou Groza award after Mike Nugent won in 2004. The award itself has a special tie to the Buckeyes as Lou Groza played at Ohio State.

Counting down

Ohio State training camp opens: 7 days away

Ohio State season opener vs. Notre Dame: 37 days away

Ohio State vs. Michigan: 121 days away

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