To be the starting quarterback at Ohio State is one of the premier roles in college football.
As C.J. Stroud heads to the NFL, leaving behind a legacy as one of the best quarterbacks in program history with 8,123 passing yards and 85 touchdowns in two seasons, Kyle McCord and Devin Brown will now battle for the coveted title of QB1 for the Buckeyes.
Both top-50 overall recruits in their respective classes, McCord came to Columbus as a five-star prospect in 2021 while Brown arrived one year later as a four-star in 2022. Head coach Ryan Day helped quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis recruit them, and he's assisted in their development in their early years as Buckeyes, so he's seen the traits necessary to be a future starter at Ohio State.
But as the 2023 season draws closer, and the decision to pick either McCord or Brown as the team's starter becomes necessary, Day said he's looked at specific areas that will set one of the players apart. He explained those areas in a press conference at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Tuesday.
“I've been talking to our guys about making the routine plays routinely. With our players and the skill we have, we don't need extraordinary stuff. We need people to take care of the football.”– Ryan Day on Kyle McCord and Devin Brown
"I've been talking to our guys about making the routine plays routinely," Day said of McCord and Brown. "With our players and the skill we have, we don't need extraordinary stuff. We need people to take care of the football. If the first read is there, take it. If not, work on the two-three and have a plan from there. Make good decisions in the run game, take care of the football and lead the offense."
Day also stated his belief that McCord and Brown – or any Ohio State starting quarterback, for that matter – must have two qualities above all else: Competitiveness and an “extraordinary trait.” He pointed to Braxton Miller, Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett, Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud as examples of that archetype.
"They have to be able to compete. They have to be competitors because of what it takes to be the quarterback at Ohio State," Day said. "I think the other thing is that you're looking for some sort of extraordinary trait. When you think about the different quarterbacks we've had, even going back to Braxton, Cardale, J.T., Dwayne, Justin, C.J. and when Joe (Burrow) was here, they all had extraordinary traits. I think that's important. You try to emphasize those traits."
As for the extraordinary traits he sees in McCord and Brown, Day declined to provide any specifics in the press conference, claiming "the least amount that I can say, the better for them" as they continue to battle for the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. However, he did mention that he's seen some qualities develop in recent weeks that have impressed him.
"I think they are starting to take shape. I think that they're doing a good job," Day said. "The one thing I can appreciate about both of them is their work ethic and intelligence level. It's been fun to get out there and see them take reps with the ones. When you're taking reps with the twos and the threes, it's a little different, especially in season. But now they're thrust up there, being pushed up there.
"We'll see as we continue to go. We haven't even put third-down (plays) in or any of that stuff. So far, I like their mentality, and I think the team believes in them, and I think that's important as well."
One of McCord and Brown's first opportunities to display the traits Day mentioned will come on Saturday in Ohio State's first intrasquad scrimmage of the spring. After the scrimmage, Day will continue to preach a similar message to his quarterbacks, who will still be in the heat of battle as the team dives deeper into the offseason sessions: "They have to stay hungry and keep working."
