Ohio State has passed the midway point of preseason camp and got its first scrimmage under its belt on Saturday.
Through those practices, some of the questions about this year's team have been answered and some haven't. Day named Will Howard Ohio State's starting quarterback at the start of his press conference on Thursday, but said that the Buckeyes' right guard competition is still ongoing as the offensive line recently overcame widespread illness, though he's "felt" Tegra Tshabola at the position.
Emeka Egbuka, Brandon Inniss, Carnell Tate, TreVeyon Henderson and Jeremiah Smith are among those competing at punt and kick returner while the Buckeyes' punter competition is still ongoing.
Following Day's time offensive coordinator Chip Kelly took to the lectern and discussed the offensive line's ongoing improvement and what's stood out about Howard. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles rounded out the interview session, diving into some of the team's key depth pieces like Arvell Reese – who won defensive Player of the Game at Saturday's scrimmage – Malik Hartford and the defensive line.
Ryan Day
- Day opened his press conference by naming Will Howard Ohio State's starting quarterback. "Will Howard will start the first game against Akron. He is our starting quarterback. ... Devin (Brown) right now will be the number two. ... We're really excited about Will being the starter."
- Day said that the offensive line is still a little bit behind in evaluation, but he noted that he's "felt" Tegra Tshabola at right guard and that Seth McLaughlin has been the team's most "consistent" offensive lineman.
- While punter is undecided, Day likes what he's seen from the group, though he wants to see more consistency in time to punt, hang time and distance from all of them.
- Day said the team will use multiple kick and punt returners early in the season, but noted that Emeka Egbuka, Brandon Inniss, Carnell Tate, TreVeyon Henderson and Jeremiah Smith will be among those in the mix.
- On when Howard started to separate in the quarterback competition: "Coming off the spring, everything was very new, it was a significant change in terms of scheme. ... In the offseason he changed his body, came in with a much better knowledge of what's going on. Then after the first week (of preseason camp), he really started to take command."
- On how Brown took the news he'd be the backup: "I met with (the quarterbacks) this morning, all of them together. ... I shared with the group that we were gonna name Will the starter. ... Devin has shown just about everything we've asked him to do. ... A big part of being a quarterback is resilience and continuing the work."
- Arvell Reese was the Player of the Game on defense in Ohio State's scrimmage and Emeka Egbuka was Player of the Game on offense. A handful of more guys graded out as champions.
- More on the offensive line: "We're trying to keep Tegra at guard right now and let him master that. ... I will say that Zen (Michalski) has shown some signs, so we're trying to find that third tackle. ... George (Fitzpatrick) has been out for a while." Day added that Austin Siereveld has shown some good signs after switching from guard to tackle as well."
- On who's stepped up to be next up at receiver: "Brandon (Inniss) has done a nice job, so has Bryson Rodgers. I've been really impressed with Kojo Antwi. ... I see some things in him that are pretty special. Jayden Ballard has flashed, he's done that in the past, we need more consistency from him. ... I think we're building depth there."
- On James Peoples: "Once he got that black stripe off that day before, he's put some really good practices together. ... He's got a good look in his eye ... I'm excited about what I've seen the last few weeks from James."
- On whether he feels "relieved" to have a starting quarterback named: "When it's really, really close and the locker room is divided, it's a little bit different. I don't know if that's the situation here. I think right now, the team feels Will. ... I don't think the locker room is going to be surprised. ... I think on the field, Will has separated himself."
- On the biggest question heading into Ohio State's next scrimmage. "I don't know if we'll get anything (else) answered. ... Saturday will be one more piece of the puzzle. ... Will there be some positions won? Probably. ... But it's not going to be revolutionary."
- Julian Sayin is still in the mix to be Ohio State's No. 2 quarterback, Day said.
- On where the Buckeyes' tight ends stand: "I think our tight ends have made progress. Will Kacmarek has shown an ability to play durable, to be accountable in the pass game. ... Jelani Thurman is someone we need to continue to improve. He's got the ability ... I love his competitiveness."
Chip Kelly
- On why Will Howard won the starting quarterback job: "I think Will's earned it. We grade everything. ... It's just as critical to be that guy in the run game as well as the pass game in terms of what we ask the quarterback to do here. ... Where he is now is pretty impressive. And the one thing you know he has is experience."
- There's still an importance placed on the second- and third-string quarterback at Ohio State, Kelly said. "I think Devin had a really good camp. This was a really close competition. ... I think everybody knows here, you just mention the name Cardale Jones."
- On the importance of a scrimmage for evaluating quarterbacks: "Last Saturday they really showed up. ... They were efficient with the football and we had a really good mix of run and pass."
- On players stepping up on the offensive: "I think we've been forced because of the illness that's gone through (to play depth) ... I think Zen and Austin are two guys that have stepped up." Kelly added that McLaughlin and Tshabola have been the most consistent of Ohio State's linemen not missing major time with illness alongside those two.
- Freshman Ian Moore has been another stand out on the offensive line, Kelly said, losing his black stripe on Thursday.
- On Luke Montgomery playing center: "Just developing depth. And the more versatile you can make yourself, the more likely you are to see the field. ... You can never have too many centers."
- Kelly said both Ohio State's offense and defense got into their playbooks plenty in Saturday's scrimmage.
- On how Will grew from the spring: "Will's a huge film junky. He's always working on something. ... From a physical standpoint, really getting his feet going, getting a little more zip on the ball, making sure that kinesthetic chain is all going."
- Kelly said Egbuka has stood out in his ability to block, run the ball and get open and make plays all over the field. "I think he's in a box on his own. A lot of the slot receivers I've had in the past have been smaller."
- On what stands out about Tshabola: "I think Tegra's really athletic and can really sink his hips and he's long. ... That's a really big deal for us. We like offensive linemen that are big because big people beat up little people. We like Tegra a lot."
Jim Knowles
- Knowles said he doesn't feel like the defense is whipping the offense's tail in practice as Kelly indicated. "It's a battle every day. You've got offense, great receivers, good running game. It's just a battle, every day is back and forth."
- On Reese: "I think he can help. Arvell has made great strides since he's been here. And when he's on the attack and he's playing downhill, he's as good as anybody."
- On what he's seen from Will Howard: "He's making all the throws. He stands in the pocket, he's got great vision, arm strength. ... He's making the pinpoint passes, too."
- On what his biggest question that he needs to see answered about his defense: "It goes back to safety depth. ... We feel good about our starters but the guys behind there with Malik (Hartford) and (Jaylen) McClain has really emerged as a guy who will need to be ready to play. ... Our safety depth needs to come along."
- Knowles said Kelly excels at attacking a defense's weaknesses. "All kinds of things. Very talented in the run game and the calls and keeping me off-balance. ... Every defense has holes and he's really good at finding it and trying to cover everything, when we all know that's not possible."
- On whether he feels good about the defense: "I never feel good, right. It's just constant adjustments to formations and learning and getting the checks right. We're putting more stress on them in terms of having more calls that we can make. ... I feel good about our players, now we're just trying to have more pressure."
- On Eddrick Houston: "For a young guy, Eddrick, he flashes. He's strong at the point of attack. ... He's flashing, I could definitely see him in there this year."
- On Hartford: "He's growing in confidence, and that's a huge thing for a safety. ... For him it's just all about confidence, he's got the talent so it's all about reps and confidence."
