With Ohio State's spring game three days away, Ryan Day held his final press conference before the live scrimmage at the Shoe.
Day discussed several different topics at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, including Devin Brown having "a procedure" that will keep him out of the spring game, Ohio State's offensive and defensive approach to the scrimmage and what position battles he will watch closely on Saturday.
We included a rundown of Day's comments below:
Ryan Day
- Day said he is excited for Ohio State to play in the spring game on Saturday after what he thinks has been a great spring for the Buckeyes. "It should be a good turnout and a good opportunity for our guys to play in front of a good crowd."
- Day said Devin Brown had "a procedure" on his hand that will keep him from playing the spring game on Saturday. Day said Brown will be able to throw "real soon" and should be able to continue his development later in the spring, summer and fall.
- Day said "we'll keep building, keep growing, either way" regardless of how long it takes Brown to get healthy. He expects Kyle McCord, Tristan Gebbia, Chad Ray and Mason Maggs to step up in Brown's absence and trusts them to develop on their own and help their teammates develop as they lead the offense in practices.
- Day on Kyle McCord and Devin Brown: "They've both done really good things, but there are things they both have to improve on." He added that McCord and Brown have both had good practices this spring, and he hopes both can continue to battle each time they have the opportunity. "One day one guy has the upper hand, the other day the other guy might have the upper hand."
- On comparisons of Brown's injury to Joe Burrow's in 2017, Day said Burrow's injury came in the fall, and that set him back during the season, while Brown's injury has come in the spring. "This one is different. Devin has been practicing a lot this spring."
- Day said he is not ready to name a starter at right tackle, but he looks forward to seeing players like Zen Michalski and Tegra Tshabola compete in the spring game. As for left tackle, he feels similarly about Josh Fryar at the spot, saying Fryar "has the ability" to lock down the spot but needs to keep stacking days this spring to have a firm grasp over the starting role.
- Day said Miyan Williams will play the first couple of drives in the spring game, which will likely be "the thud drives." He said Williams has dealt with some injury-related issues in the offseason but it is nothing "long term" or anything that has caused the coaching staff to be concerned.
- Day said Ohio State's safeties have been "solid" this spring. He noted Josh Proctor, Lathan Ransom, Cameron Martinez, Kye Stokes and Sonny Styles as players he's had an eye on this offseason. Day also mentioned that Ja"Had Carter had a good spring up until his injury – one he is unsure whether or not it will cause Carter to miss the spring game on Saturday.
- Day said he believes in recruiting momentum and the culture Ohio State has currently regarding the kind of players the Buckeyes have recruited and landed recently. "We are getting some of the best players in the country to jump on board right now."
- Day said Ohio State has had "great energy" in its spring practices, but he wants to see that energy sustain for an entire practice from start to finish, as that will be what is required of the Buckeyes' players when they reach the start of the 2023 season.
- Day said Ohio State's message this offseason has still been "Fight," and its motto has been "Tough Love." He also said the coaching staff has been focusing on winner-loser scenarios that they hope will breed a competitive environment within the team, leading to an increased desire for toughness. "We motivate through love... There is nothing more powerful or sustainable than love."
- Day said he's "been trying to stay in the middle of the field" and have a hands-off, CEO-like approach to coaching his team this spring. However, he says "it's been hard" for him to do that as he has always been more of a hands-on coach since he entered the profession.
- Day said Jelani Thurman has "a lot of potential" and thinks the freshman tight end has embraced all aspects of what it means to be a tight end in Ohio State's offense. "He has a lot of people he can look up to there to learn how to do it." Day claimed Thurman may be "the most talented player" for his age that he's seen since he took over as head coach of the Buckeyes in 2019.
- Day said Gebbia has incredible "maturity" and "his approach in the meeting rooms" has been what stands out most about the Oregon State transfer. Despite Brown's procedure, Day feels confident that the quarterback room will be in good hands with McCord, Gebbia, Ray and Maggs for the rest of the spring and will continue to get better when Lincoln Kienholz arrives in the summer.
- Day said Ohio State's position battles will come down to mental toughness. He believes every player – regardless of position – has the talent to start for the Buckeyes. However, the battles will come down to who can prove that talent with each opportunity, which he believes ultimately comes down to a mental approach more than a physical one.
- Day said he "will be on the headset" for the spring game. He expects to call some plays for the offense but also let Brian Hartline take the lead at times. Day said he and Hartline are still working on the best plan for how to handle that and will probably continue working on it until Saturday.
