Thursday's first fall camp day wasn't perfect for Will Howard.
There were issues with some of the transfer quarterback's deep throws and some other mistakes during the practice. But fall camp is all about progression. And from where he was getting acclimated with the Buckeyes' offense and weapons in the spring, Ryan Day noticed progress from his signal caller.
"I thought there was more zip on the ball, and I thought there was more accuracy today," Day said. "For day one, I did notice that. Again, day one, what are you going to do on day one? But I thought the ball came out with more pace. I thought he had more discernment, and I thought there were some accurate throws up there."
With another 30 days before the season opens against Akron, Howard or one of Ohio State's quarterbacks will need to gain separation in their position battle as the group continues to take strides.
The first compliment Day paid to the room as a whole is that they've improved their fitness through summer workouts. It's no secret that the Buckeyes plan to incorporate more quarterback runs into their offense this season and both Howard and Devin Brown showcased their abilities there in both scramble and read option situations.
"I thought our guys looked more fit. I think they look stronger. I think they've moved better from the spring," Day said. "They just look like they've had three, four months of work on their bodies. They just look that way. They look strong."
Otherwise, the main growth he saw from the room was in their running of the offense. The Buckeyes are mixing different tempos and huddling more than in years past, and that element, along with general scheme knowledge, was an area of improvement on Thursday.
"The ball came out with more pace today," Day said. "I thought they had a better understanding of the offense being out there for the first day. You saw us in and out of the huddle, you saw us in a couple of different styles (of tempo). Our guys have to learn how to say it in a huddle, and that's something new. We haven't done a ton of that before, but there's something to that."
One of the main reasons Ohio State is mixing its tempos is the adoption of in-helmet communication for the 2024 season across college football. The Buckeyes' quarterback will be able to commune with coaches while on the field and relay calls to the rest of the offense.
"We're excited to be able to (mix tempos) again with the coach-to-player communication," Day said. "When the offensive line gets together, they talk before the play. The skill guys are there communicating what the down and distance is. When the quarterback walks in the huddle, he can look everybody in the eye and say the play, and then give them a little something before the play."
As camp continues, it will be interesting to see where Howard, Brown and the rest of the room can get to both running the offense and throwing the ball with more precision.
