Ryan Day Radio Show: Ryan Day Says "Nothing is Guaranteed" As Ohio State's Season Winds Down, Expects a "Loud" Environment for Primetime Kickoff vs. Michigan State

Outside of a handful of questions about Michigan State's offense and defense, Day mostly answered questions about the Buckeyes on The Ryan Day Radio Show, assessing the overall performances of Kyle McCord, TreVeyon Henderson, Tyleik Williams and others.

After Day's comments concluded, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles appeared on the show to talk about Ohio State's defense and what to expect from the Spartans' offense on Saturday.

Here is a bullet-point recap of The Ryan Day Radio Show:

Ryan Day

On Ohio State's win over Rutgers

• "Still a lot to learn from."
• "We were in a dog fight there at halftime. The pick-six (from Jordan Hancock) flipped the game."
• Day said Ohio State had a better second half than the first half. He said the Buckeyes focused a lot in the offseason "on finishing games."

On Ohio State's freshmen defensive backs

• "Jermaine Mathews (Jr.) really stepped up."
• Day said Malik Hartford had a standout performance for the Buckeyes on Saturday.
• Day said he doesn't view Mathews and Hartford as freshmen anymore because of the time they have spent at Ohio State and the work they've put in.

On Jordan Hancock

• Day said Hancock is one of the hardest workers on the team and spends countless hours at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Day said Hancock probably drives secondary coach Tim Walton wild with how often Hancock asks him to be in the film room.
• "We need him to be an impact player for us to reach our goals."

On Kyle McCord

• "A lot of teams have played us in different ways. ... There are some different ways to attack. ... (Kyle) can draw on those."
• Day said McCord has been a better communicator on the sidelines after Ohio State's offensive possessions. "Way different than he was early in the season. The communication on the sideline is improved. ... You can trust and believe in what he's saying. That's encouraging."
• Day said he has been impressed with McCord's leadership all season and the way he commands the huddle.

On Ohio State's tight end depth

• With Cade Stover out, Day said it was "good to get those guys on the field, get them those reps."
• On Patrick Gurd: "You have to earn everything in this program, and he's done that. ... It was good to get him out there. He graded out well in the game."
• On Gee Scott Jr.: "Good to see him get that catch early and get his confidence up."

On TreVeyon Henderson

• Day said Henderson has become a threat as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, which he believes will open up a lot of opportunities for the Ohio State offense.
• "Once he gets going, he's dangerous."
• On Henderson being fully healthy after a midseason ailment: "We gotta be healthy here down the stretch. We have a couple of big ones ahead of us."
• Day said Ohio State made "a couple of adjustments" for Saturday to ensure the Buckeyes are healthy for the team's stretch run.

On Ohio State's health opening up the offense

• "Now that you have Trey back and Emeka (Egbuka) back, and we'll get Cade back this week... there will be a lot that we can throw at defenses."
• Day said Marvin Harrison Jr. should be open for more targets and catches with Ohio State's full arsenal of weapons back in the rotation. If Harrison isn't open, however, Day expects Henderson, Egbuka and Stover to step up, as well as Julian Fleming, Xavier Johnson and others.

On Ohio State playing a night game vs. Michigan State

• "Primetime is always fun."
• "It's usually very loud."
• Day said he looks forward to seeing the atmosphere inside and outside of Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

On Ohio State's linebackers

• "All three of those guys have been great."
• "C.J. is right around the corner to getting on the field."
• Day said "it's not always easy" for young players like Hicks to have to wait their turn, but he said "when you get an opportunity in a game, that's something you have to take advantage of."

On Michigan State's defense

• "They're stout up front."
• "Good scheme."
• Day said Michigan State's ability to force turnovers this season has stood out to him.
• "They are playing hard. Last week, they got a big win. I give them a lot of credit."

On Michigan State's offense

• Day said he expects Michigan State to spread the ball around the field and look for a balanced attack running and passing the football.
• "They're physical up front."
• "Our guys are gonna have to show up like they always do against Big Ten opponents."

On Calvin Simpson-Hunt

• "He really gave great effort running down the field on kickoffs (against Rutgers)."
• "He gave great effort on special teams. That's a good sign."
• "He deserved to get his black stripe off."
• Day said special teams "is a big part of the game," so he always appreciates it when younger players take accountability and own their role in those units.

On the legacy of great players at Ohio State

• "There's an opportunity here to be the next great."
• Day said Ohio State's current players have the same opportunity Buckeye legends did to leave an impact on the football program and the school.
• "Our guys respect the tradition."

On Ohio State's defensive recruiting philosophies

• "It hasn't changed."
• "It's exciting to hear the feedback we are getting from recruits and their families since we've made the change schematically with Jim (Knowles)."
• "We have a lot of momentum there."

On Davison Igbinosun

• "When you're talking about corners, you want someone who is competitive."
• "The guys have embraced him."
• "He's out there every day trying to prove himself."
• "We saw (him be competitive) in the preseason, and we're still seeing it."

On Josh Proctor

• Day said Proctor's emergence this season has been "good to see," especially after all Proctor has been through in his Ohio State career.
• "He puts his body on the field every day."
• "If we are gonna reach our goals here, he's gonna be a big part of it."

On Tyleik Williams

• "He's a smart player."
• "He's done a good job with his hands, a good job with his pad level."
• "He's into it. He's a very intelligent player."

On former coaches helping him at Ohio State

• Day said Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel and John Cooper have "been around a lot" and have taught him a lot as he has grown into his position as Ohio State's head coach.
• "It means a lot that they would help me in day-to-day things."
• Day said Ohio State often has former players in the building who can impart wisdom and pass on perspective to the current Buckeyes. "It's great to have. ... It's been great."

On Ohio State's season winding down, seniors ending their careers

• "Nothing is guaranteed."
• "We have to take advantage of every opportunity we have as a team."
• "There's only so many of these opportunities."
• "Our guys are doing their best to maximize the day-to-day and take advantage of these games."

Jim Knowles

On Ohio State's freshmen defensive backs

• "We have some young people who have stepped up. ... They've shown it in practice."
• On Jermaine Mathews: "He showed up previously in the season. ... He's got moxie. It's an old people's word, but he's got moxie, and he's confident."
• On Malik Hartford: "He's persevered."

On Michigan State's offense

• "They stepped up last week. That gives you pause that they're still fighting despite the circumstance."
• "They've been a flavor of the day. Their coaches put together a game plan that's different all the time."
• "Definitely an opponent to be wary of."

On how Ohio State can handle Michigan State's offense

• "You have to understand your role in the defense and perform in it with the game on the line every play."
• "The defense is a 'right now proposition.'"
• "(Michigan State is) willing to take the chances, which makes them difference."