When Ryan Day and Ohio State's quarterbacks held press conferences at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to kickoff preseason camp for the 2023 season, one notable Buckeye missed the session.
Lincoln Kienholz.
As Day took the podium on Wednesday, the Ohio State head coach said Kyle McCord, Devin Brown and Tristan Gebbia would be the three quarterbacks available to the media at the start of preseason camp.
"Lincoln, as a freshman, we will let him take a pass on the first time around," Day said with a smile and a laugh.
But make no mistake. While Kienholz did not receive questions from the media inside Ohio State's newly-renovated team room, the Pierre, South Dakota, native was not absent from the discussion between reporters and the Buckeyes. In fact, Day immediately spoke about him to close his opening statement.
"He's done a great job coming in and being thrown to the wolves this summer with Coach Mick (Marotti) in the weight room, learning how to take a snap with the guys out there when they are working and throwing on their own," Day said. "He's done a great job."
Kienholz has impressed more people than Day this summer. Gebbia, an offseason transfer from Oregon State who will enter his seventh season of college football in 2023, has been surprised with the freshman quarterback's development in his first months on campus.
"Lincoln is a hard worker. He puts his head down and gets to work. I think he's picked up the system pretty fast. Smart kid. Very athletic – obviously, that's a big draw to him. He's been improving every day."– Tristan Gebbia on Lincoln Kienholz
"Lincoln is a hard worker," Gebbia said. "He puts his head down and gets to work. I think he's picked up the system pretty fast. Smart kid. Very athletic – obliviously, that's a big draw to him. He's been improving every day, and I think he does a great job in the weight room. Guys are already starting to respect him. I am very excited for his future."
For Day and Gebbia, it's clear Kienholz's character and work-based mindset was established far before he arrived in Columbus. His athletic accolades at T.F. Riggs High School serve as evidence.
In 2022-23, Kienholz scored 70 total touchdowns, led the Governors to their third consecutive state championship and was named South Dakota's 11AA Player of the Year in football. On the hardwood, Kienholz helped take his school to the state quarterfinals and finished as the Governors' second all-time leading scorer in basketball. And on the diamond, he pitched and played first base and shortstop as T.F. Riggs won its first-ever state title. Kienholz was a nine-time all-state selection across all three sports.
Kienholz's already-impressive résumé was bolstered on Sunday when he was named the USA TODAY Boys Athlete of the Year on a televised broadcast of the media company's third annual High School Sports Awards.
As Kienholz transitions from high school all-star to Ohio State backup quarterback, Day hopes Kienholz can use his athleticism and other qualities to offer the Buckeyes' defense a dual-threat look as he leads the scout team offense.
"I think he can really help us, especially with some of the quarterbacks we see who are more athletic," Day said. "It's one thing to have a drill with a quarterback that maybe can't disconnect, but when you're reading a defensive end or scrambling and those things – to have somebody who can mimic what the other quarterback will do, that's really good. It's different to know the guys in the back end have to cover a little longer, and guys (in the front end) have to pursue more and cage the pocket. Those are things I think Lincoln can do."
Day also hopes for much more in Kienholz's first year. While McCord or Brown will wear the heavy crown as Ohio State's starting quarterback this season, Day believes Kienholz should have chances to receive live, late-game snaps in contests the Buckeyes have all but won in 2023.
"Who knows? I won't put a limit on what will happen this year," Day said. "If it plays out the way we think, Lincoln will have a great opportunity to go against our defense and grow and learn. I will be surprised if he also doesn't have a chance to get in a game this year and get his feet wet. We'll see. But I think he will be a weapon for us."
