Presser Bullets: Ohio State's Quarterback Race Still Ongoing, Offensive Line Taking Shape

Following the team's second intrasquad scrimmage Saturday, Ryan Day took to the lectern Monday to announce that Ohio State remains undecided on who its starting signal caller will be.

Devin Brown and Kyle McCord are still locked in a tight race, with the picture for the team becoming clearer along the offensive line. 

Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles also met with the media and gave updates on all three levels of the Buckeyes' defense.

Here's a rundown of what they had to say:

Ryan Day

• Ohio State isn’t ready to name a starting quarterback yet, and both graded out champions at the team’s scrimmage Saturday. “It’s like a horse race. One pulls away, the other catches up.” He mentioned the staff took a straw poll of who should win the job and it was “almost even.”
• Ryan Day said he weighs the opinion of the defensive coaches “a little bit” in determining the team’s starting quarterback. The decision will ultimately be his, however.
• Day confirmed that Josh Simmons will start at left tackle against Indiana, with Carson Hinzman leading at center and Josh Fryar at right tackle. He added that this has been the best football right guard Matthew Jones has played.
• Day said that freshman tackle Luke Montgomery “will play this year” and he’s shown the staff enough for them to have confidence in him as a freshman.
• On the quarterbacks: “I think they’re both doing very well ... They’re both going to be really good players, and how this shakes out, I don’t really have a crystal ball on that ... I can honestly say neither guy is ahead of the other right now.”
• “If it’s all equal, you want the guy that has 'it' ... somebody that you can rally around ... if all things are equal, we want the best leader, the best decision-maker, and ultimately the best competitor.”
• In terms of game-week preparation, the reps will be split between both Kyle McCord and Devin Brown as they have been should Ohio State’s quarterback battle not be resolved by next week. But as of right now, Day believes “both guys deserve to play.”
• Day pointed to the precedence of multiple quarterbacks having success in a season for a team, with TCU quarterback Max Duggan being a Heisman Trophy finalist after starting the year as a backup in 2022 and the Buckeyes winning a national championship with a third-string signal caller in 2014.
• Asked whether he witnessed his son R.J. Day’s game-winning touchdown pass as more of a dad or a coach, Day noted, “More of a dad.”
• There’s still a chance Ohio State’s quarterback race could be settled this week, Day noted, but once the team is in game-week preparation next week it’ll be time to come up with a concrete plan — whether it’s with one quarterback or two.
• On the football team reaching out in support to Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso, who suffered a gunshot over the weekend but is in stable condition: “It’s a family here at Ohio State ... to see something like that happen was shocking. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, Coach (Tom) Ryan and his whole time.”
• Criteria for choosing a quarterback remains the same regardless of college or professional football, Day said.
• With the maturity of the team and large gap in votes received for Tommy Eichenberg and Cade Stover, Day felt it was fitting to give third-leading vote-getter Xavier Johnson the third captaincy and cut it off there. The Buckeyes’ leadership groups have been “sizeable” all season, Day added. There also worked out to be an element of offense, defense and special teams.
• Day pointed to the big plays Xavier Johnson made in 2022 when asked why he was named the team’s “Block O” jersey recipient. Day said Johnson is the “ultimate example” of a guy who contributes in a multitude of ways, including special teams. Likened him to former Ohio State walk-on and longtime New England Patriot Nate Ebner.
• “I think we have more depth at defensive end than I expected to have.
• Freshman wide receiver Carnell Tate “continues to impress.” His maturity, talent and dedication, particularly after losing his mother.
• The defense is “getting its hands on a lot more balls” in the secondary, Day said, wrapping up his biggest takeaways from fall camp.
• Ohio State will decide a starting kicker when Day talks to Parker Fleming later on Monday.
• Day said Simmons has “talent off the chart, ability off the chart.” Just needs more reps to continue molding. His experience at San Diego State has helped some, but it’s a different animal at Ohio State, something that Simmons has acknowledged to Day previously.
• Generally, Day has been impressed with the group of freshmen receivers, noting Brandon Inniss got his black stripe removed Monday. “When it comes to the passing game, these guys are much further along than years past.”
• Davison Igbinosun, Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock have all been consistent forces at cornerback for Ohio State, Day said. Overall, Day feels the secondary has “more depth and more length” than in years past.
• One thing that gives Day optimism about his team is its veteran presence. “They’re more consistent. Every day, you know what to expect.”
• Whether it's Brown or McCord, Day feels confident either could perform at a high level. 

Jim Knowles

• Sonny Styles has solidified himself as a starting safety, Knowles said. “Sonny is a guy we’re going to have on the field as much as we can.” Added that he provides versatility to the back end.
• Lathan Ransom has had a “great camp, great spring,” Knowles said. Added that Josh Proctor, Malik Hartford and Ja’Had Carter will also be in competition for a role in the defense.
• On Hartford: “You feel their presence on the field ...  Malik is a guy who’s going to show up around the ball. He’s very smart.”
• As it pertains to Ohio State’s defensive line: “Our rushmen have had a great camp. We have four ends there that I think are as good as anyone in the country.” Added that the team has “felt the rush” during camp.”
• Knowles said that he’s had to grow as a coach this offseason and come up with new schemes, calls and strategies that limit the big plays Ohio State allowed against Michigan and Georgia last year.
• At adjuster, Knowles wants to “solidify” the starter in an ongoing competition between Proctor, Hartford and Carter. Added that he’s worried about depth at defensive tackle with how much guys “beat up,” though he likes pieces that they have. He feels that Hero Kanu has had a great camp.
• Knowles said Jack Sawyer has started to become dominant the last two practices at defensive end. “He was at a high level, then the last two days he vaulted himself into being a dominant guy.”
• “Mitch has grown a lot at the defensive end position ... Mitch is very smart, very level-headed.” Added that it will be a matter of ensuring his tools aren’t lessened by playing the “Jack.”
• On Caden Curry: “Cade is going to play a lot. All along that front, I think he’s going to fit into different places. Not on run downs, but he’s a lot to handle on passing downs.”
• It’s important for Knowles to keep players healthy for the long haul, which is where linebacker Cody Simon comes in, he said. Feels Simon and C.J. Hicks will play a lot this year in the spot.
• Knowles said that Sonny is a combination of a nickel safety and sam linebacker as he plays on the field. Trying to come up with a new name for the position on the spot, Knowles called it a “Strike.” His versatility to play man, zone or blitz adds another dimension to the defense, per Knowles.
• On why he’d vote for Tommy Eichenberg as a captain if he were a player: “I want a guy who’s never going to flinch. I want someone who’s going to lead, not so much through his words, but just being a stalwart for the program ... He’s never going to point fingers, he’s going to look at his own deficiencies ... He’s just that dude.”
• Knowles said Ohio State’s three transfer additions came in with a “team mentality” and competed right away, making them successful additions.