For the first official time Monday morning, acting head coach Ryan Day said Dwayne Haskins will start under under center against Oregon State this coming Saturday.
The announcement came in an hour-long press conference in front of local and national media Monday morning at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, one that included Day and defensive coordinator Greg Schiano.
"Dwayne has done a great job," Day said. "Throughout practice, he's gotten stronger. He's got to have a good week at practice because he's never started a game before. Dwayne will start on Saturday. He has a lot of talent and he's talented throwing the football. He's worked on athleticism, strength and power during the offseason. As a starter, you have to prepare differently. So it's going to be a week-to-week process."
Day was also asked about second-string quarterback Tate Martell's potential role in the Buckeyes' offense this season.
"Tate made a really big push. (Haskins) is the starter," Day said. "But the plan is to play Tate. How? When? We don't know. But all the reps that were had were split between the two."
Haskins, who's listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, was also said to have shed weight and gotten stronger as Day thanked the team's assistant athletic director for football sports performance Mickey Marotti for that development.
"He doesn't have to be JT. He doesn't have to be Braxton. He doesn't have to be Cardale."– Ryan Day on Dwayne Haskins
When the Buckeyes line up against Oregon State, Haskins will have big shoes to fill. Last year's starting quarterback JT Barrett holds the Big Ten record for most career passing touchdowns, among multiple other program records.
But Day said he feels comfortable that Haskins is up to the task.
"The thing we talk about with Dwayne is he doesn't have to be JT, he doesn't have to be Braxton (Miller), he doesn't have to be Cardale (Jones)," Day said. "All the quarterbacks, they have to be themselves. You have to find your own way. Now there are a lot of things that leaders have in common and we share those and talk about those. But along the way you have to find your own way and that's been the message."
A sophomore out of Potomac, Maryland, Haskins threw for 565 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman, in limited action. He started to gain traction as Barrett's successor during the team's 31-20 win over Michigan last season when he completed 6-of-7 passes for 94 yards alongside 24 rushing yards on three carries.
He'll look to build upon those numbers with what's expected to be one of the best receiving corps in the nation. Three team captains are in that position group alone.
"They're all going to play," Day said of the wide receiving core. "We have great depth there, which I think makes us really strong. It keeps them fresh. We have three captains in that group alone, so a lot of leadership there. But the plan, early on, is to play everybody."
Another question coming into the season was who would replace Billy Price at center. That was answered as Day announced Michael Jordan, a 6-foot-7, 312-pound junior, as the starter.
Jordan has started every game throughout his career. The leadership he'll bring to the position will undoubtedly help Haskins settle in.
Saturday's season-opening kickoff against Oregon State is set for 12:07 p.m. at Ohio Stadium.
