Presser Bullets: Ryan Day Says Ohio State Will Tackle For Majority of Spring Game, Details Plans to Honor Dwayne Haskins on Saturday

By Griffin Strom on April 14, 2022 at 11:02 am
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Ryan Day addressed members of the media for the final time before Saturday's spring game Thursday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

The Buckeye head coach provided updates about the development of his roster and talked about what he expects to learn about the team as the spring reaches its conclusion in Columbus, and also detailed the spring game format and how Ohio State plans to honor Dwayne Haskins at the exhibition.

For a rundown of everything Day said at his Thursday presser, check out the bullet-point breakdown below.

Ryan Day

  • Day says he's excited about the coaches clinic taking place on Thursday and Friday, when the Buckeyes will also be honoring Keith Byars, Dick LeBeau and others.
  • Day says the Buckeyes will go offense vs. defense in the spring game and that there will be a moment of silence for Dwayne Haskins, among a couple other things to honor the late quarterback. Day says there will be tackling in the spring game.
  • Knowles is not going to do "a lot of his stuff" in the spring game, defensively. Day says.
  • Day says Knowles has been impressed by how professional the defense has been and how much information it has been able to absorb.
  • On Kye Stokes and Caden Curry losing their black stripes, Day says Stokes' attitude and smile is "excellent" and "contagious." Day says he has a "really high ceiling" athletically. Day says Curry plays bigger than his size.
  • On how important the spring game is for the younger players: "You always revert back to your training when you're in an environment with high stress. ... I expect a lot of these guys to play with a lot of confidence."
  • "I think it's the right thing to do to tackle in this game. We still have a lot of young guys that need to get out there and play football."
  • Day says the players that have replaced the departing Buckeye starters have "done a nice job" this offseason.
  • "C.J. won't play the whole game with the ones, either." Day says the first-team reps will be split up among the quarterbacks.
  • Day says "the depth of the O-line is a little bit of a concern, the depth at safety is a little bit of a concern."
  • Tommy Eichenberg has continued to impress Day this spring.
  • Day says Lathan Ransom and Josh Fryar should be back this summer, but Marcus Crowley might be dealing with a long-term injury.
  • Day says Josh Proctor won't be tackling on Saturday, but might play a little bit in the spring game early during the thud portion.
  • Quarterbacks will be off limits tackling wise. Day says it will be good for the Buckeyes to tackle given the fact that they start the season with Notre Dame. Day says Knowles was on board with the decision to tackle in the spring game.
  • Day says the Buckeyes are "way over" the amount of players they need at safety, but that several players are injured and that the depth isn't there right now for "game ready" players at the position.
  • On expectations for Kyle McCord and Devin Brown in the spring game: "You don't need to do much more than make the routine plays routinely" at QB, given the talent at the skill positions.
  • Day says you can "feel" Ronnie Hickman on the field every day in spring practice now that he's playing the free safety position.
  • Day says the Buckeyes have had "way dicier" situations in the quarterback room than where it is at right now with Stroud, McCord and Brown.
  • On Sam Wiglusz, Day says he's "of the same mold as C.J. Saunders" in terms of a reliable walk-on wideout that a lot of players lean on. "We're very fortunate to have him as a Buckeye."
  • Noah Ruggles is "not with us right now" but will be rejoining the team in the summer, Day says.
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