Devin Brown never got a real chance to settle into his second year at Ohio State in 2023.
He saw some backup duty and occasional use in a specialty red zone package the first seven weeks of the season, but he suffered an ankle injury on Oct. 21 against Penn State, aggravated it during warmups trying to return against Michigan State on Nov. 11 and never saw the field again until the Cotton Bowl.
There against Missouri, he went 4-of-6 but for a meager 20 yards behind a struggling offensive line before being knocked out of the game with another ankle injury.
While trying to pull the upset in a quarterback battle with Will Howard, Brown is building more comfort in Ohio State’s offense and playing more freely on the field.
“Way more comfortable,” Brown said. “Being my third year in the offense, I pretty much know everything in and out. So (I’m) not really having to think too much in the installs, I'm just going out and playing.”
One of the things that has brought more comfort and confidence to Brown is new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chip Kelly. His game knowledge and teaching methods have helped Brown keep growing his understanding of the Buckeyes’ scheme.
“He's been incredible,” Brown said. “Just the way that he teaches us in the quarterback room, the different details that he adds and little things that he adds that I never really thought about when it comes to certain plays or reading things differently. So it's been good to learn from him.”
Brown also feels more confident in his abilities after receiving private coaching this offseason to work on his down-to-down dependability.
“I would say just consistency, honestly,” Brown said of his biggest offseason improvement. “Working with Jordan Palmer and Mike White (of QB Summit) in California this offseason, I think that's been a huge help for me, being more consistent with my mechanics and everything. And so throwing the ball, I feel I'm more consistent.”
Brown added that, to him, improved consistency meant better decisions in the running game and more accuracy on his passes. With a third year in the system and knowing not only Ohio State’s offense better but its defense as well, he can “anticipate” his run and pass reads and “know where to go.”
The top way Brown’s confidence manifests itself on the field is in his deep ball. He’s been the most consistent quarterback connecting on deep shots in practices open to the media, flexing one of the stronger arms in the room when he connected on two long touchdowns in Friday’s practice.
His willingness to push the ball downfield starts with his teenage days in Draper, Utah.
“I think it kind of started out at Corner Canyon (High School), having guys that could blaze down the field and moving on to here,” Brown said. “When I get the look, I'm not afraid to throw it up.”
“Being my third year in the offense, I pretty much know everything in and out. So (I’m) not really having to think too much ... I'm just going out and playing.”– Devin Brown
Quarterbacks are also expected to have a larger role in Ohio State’s ground game this season with the introduction of Kelly and plenty of capable rushers at the position. Including sack yardage, Brown picked up 23 yards and one touchdown on the ground in 2023, mostly out of his specialty package.
“The run game has been completely different. It's been incredible,” Brown said. “When you've got two running backs like Quinshon (Judkins) and TreVeyon (Henderson), and then you've got a lot of quarterbacks that can run the ball, it makes it really hard on the defense. And so Coach Kelly really utilizes us and utilizes our running backs, so there's always an option for either of us to go.”
Even if Brown isn’t ultimately the starting quarterback for Ohio State in 2024, his increased confidence and comfort will serve him well as a backup and for future seasons at the position.
