Ohio State just completed its first week of preseason camp, Oregon and Washington are joining the Big Ten in 2024 and Gene Smith announced Wednesday that he will retire next year.
That gave Ryan Day plenty to talk about as he held his second press conference of the preseason at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Wednesday.
Here’s a bullet-point rundown of what he had to say (with video to come):
- Even with everything changing in college sports right now, Day said it’s easy to stay focused on preparing for the upcoming season when you’re in the middle of preseason camp.
- On Gene Smith retiring: “I couldn’t be any happier for Gene and Sheila ... they’re poured their hearts into Ohio State athletics ... What I owe him, and my family owes him, I can’t even really verbalize ... he trusted in me, and our relationship is going to go on forever.”
- Day said Josh Fryar, Tegra Tshabola, Jimmy Simmons and Luke Montgomery are all competing at a high level at the two offensive tackle spots and indicated that they’ve been moving between both sides. He said Zen Michalski and George Fitzpatrick are also in the mix, but indicated that the other four are leading the competition right now.
- Day said he doesn’t think anyone has won a starting job at safety yet but that there have also been competitions in different personnel groupings. He said Cameron Martinez had a really good day on Wednesday and that Sonny Styles has had a great camp. He named Jordan Hancock and Cody Simon as two other Buckeye defenders who have had strong camps.
- Styles could play any of adjuster, bandit and nickel safety as well as Sam linebacker, Day said. “Sonny can move around, and he can do a lot of different things.”
- Day confirmed that Omari Abor underwent a surgical procedure and said Abor will be out “a couple of months.” Day said Abor is the only player who has suffered a long-term injury so far in camp.
- He said he has not given any thought to Oregon and Washington joining the Big Ten next year because he is so focused on preparing for this season. “There are so many things that are higher on the priority list, honestly.”
- Day said some decisions about the depth chart will likely be made after the team’s scrimmage on Saturday. “This week is a defining week for us.”
- “I can tell you that we’re very excited about Jimmy Simmons ... He’s off to a great start.” Day also said he is really excited about Luke Montgomery’s future at Ohio State.
- Day said Evan Pryor “flashed” during Wednesday’s practice. He can see Pryor getting his confidence back after missing last season with a torn patellar tendon in his knee.
- Day said he does not know yet how offensive play-calling duties will be handled this season.
- Former Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison stopped by the Buckeyes‘ practice on Wednesday and provided some feedback for the Buckeyes' defense, Day said.
- On the quarterback competition between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown: “It’s a good battle. It’s back and forth, for sure.” He said it’s a much closer competition than when C.J. Stroud won the starting job two years ago.
- Day said the center competition “has heated up” between Carson Hinzman and Victor Cutler Jr. Jakob James “is in there too,” but Day indicated that Hinzman and Cutler are leading the way in that competition right now.
- On Gene Smith: “His legacy speaks for itself, but I know he wants this transition to go smooth.”
- Day thinks “consistent communication and alignment” between the head coach and athletic director is critical. He said he and Smith have agreed on most things, but when they have disagreed on something, they’ve worked through it.
- Day said he doesn’t know if he will be ready to name a starting quarterback by next week, but he expects to have some clarity by then.
