5 takeaways from coach Ryan Day's Ohio State football press conference
Bill RabinowitzOhio State resumed spring practice Tuesday morning following last week’s spring break with a different face coaching running backs.
Tony Alford, who’d been the Buckeyes’ running backs coach since 2015, bolted for archrival Michigan last week. Coach Ryan Day said he is not rushing to fill the job and is filling Alford’s role himself this week.
Day sounded giddy about getting to work with the running backs. He rose through the coaching ranks tutoring quarterbacks.
“It’s been great,” he said. “I put up the first play and I went off for 20 minutes on one play. I think the guys were looking around like, ‘Oh, boy.’ But it was great.”
More:Ohio State football running backs coach Tony Alford leaves for Michigan
Day said he’ll have help from quality-control staffers Rob Keys and Tony Johnson, who’s the son of defensive line coach Larry Johnson. Keys was head coach for 11 years at the University of Findlay, a Division II program.
Day touched on several topics during his 40-minute press conference.
Here are five takeaways from his session:
Where the RB coach search stands
From the way Day spoke Tuesday, the Buckeyes might not have Alford’s replacement on board for a little while.
“Right now, the focus is on trying to find the right person,” Day said. “I think it’s the best running back room in the country right now, so I think it’s an exciting job. The candidate pool has been excellent.
More:How Ohio State football's scholarship situation looks for 2024
“Whoever we hire is going to have an unbelievable opportunity and a great group of guys.”
TreVeyon Henderson is a senior and Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins is a junior. Dallan Hayden is a redshirt sophomore.
Day said they have handled Alford’s departure well.
“Tre said it best: You rely on each other,” Day said. “The brotherhood is strong here. That’s something we preach a lot – the relationships with each other, the love for each other. Ultimately, that’s what the power of the unit is all about, so the guys in that room, they’re strong. They’re going to rely on each other.”
Day said the running backs will have input during the hiring process.
Clarifying the Bill O'Brien/Chip Kelly timeline
Day is Chip Kelly’s protégé. So when Day hired Bill O’Brien as his offensive coordinator and hired Kelly only after O’Brien left to become head coach at Boston College, that begged the question: Why didn’t Day hire Kelly in the first place?
Day said it was a matter of timing. He said he had a candidate list with three people on what he called his A-list: O’Brien, Kelly and a third coach he declined to name.
“Bill became available,” Day said. “I made that move and felt the timing was right on that. Then that changed.”
Kelly was the head coach at UCLA and was reportedly a candidate for NFL offensive coordinator jobs.
“For Chip, there was a lot on his mind, and he had to sort through all of that,” Day said. “By the time Bill left, I think he was in a different place (mentally), based on a lot of different things.
“It wasn’t like I ranked them in that order. It was, ‘This is the A-list right here. If we can get one of those men, we’re where we need to be.’ We’re kind of doing the same thing with the running backs (coach) right now.”
Right side of offensive line up for grabs
The Buckeyes were in pads Tuesday, but they’re still easing into contact. As a result, any definitive projections would be premature. But Day seems pleased with his options on the right side of the offensive line.
Josh Fryar played right tackle last year but could move to guard. Luke Montgomery and Tegra Tshabola are also battling for a starting spot.
“We’re going to evaluate that right side really hard, really close,” Day said. “I will say that Josh Fryar had one of the best offseasons of anybody in the building. A bunch of guys had really good offseasons, but he stuck out. If he can continue to stay in the shape he’s in, I think he’s going to have a really good spring and take that next step.”
Day said the 6-5, 308-pound Montgomery is capable of playing both guard and tackle. The 6-6, 327-pound Tshabola is more of a tackle but could play guard.
“It’s a very tight competition and we’re hoping that we have some clarity as we get towards the end of spring,” Day said.
At center, Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin and 2023 starter Carson Hinzman are competing. Day said it’s too early to name a front-runner.
Gee Scott emerges at tight end
With the departure of two-year starter Cade Stover, senior Gee Scott entered spring as the front-runner to start at tight end.
The gap between him and the rest of the tight ends appears to have widened. The Buckeyes use multiple tight end formations often and need others in that unit to develop. Sophomore Jelani Thurman, Ohio University transfer Will Kacmarek and Bennett Christian are next in line.
“Gee Scott has had a really good offseason,” Day said. “I think Jelani, Will and Bennett are going to have to really step up in the next couple of weeks to figure out who’s going to play.
“I’m excited about Gee’s play. He’s got the right approach. His leadership and demeanor have been excellent. His attitude has been off the charts. He’s poised to have a great year. (Now) he has to go do it.”
Wide receiver unit promising but uncertain
The Buckeyes figure to have a strong receiving corps even after losing Marvin Harrison Jr. to the NFL and Julian Fleming as a transfer to Penn State.
Emeka Egbuka is the unit’s leader, but Day is eager to see how others develop.
“It’s going to be a good group, but we need to continue to push that depth,” Day said.
Carnell Tate has drawn praise since his arrival last year and is a likely starter.
“I think the sky’s the limit for Carnell,” Day said. “He’s extremely talented.”
Tate had the benefit of being an early-enrollee last year. Brandon Inniss came in the summer and had to play catch up, but Day is excited about his development.
“This is his first spring,” he said. “I think he’s a different player. His body has changed completely from where it was last summer. When he’s in the right shape, he’s really talented. He has short-area quickness and just a competitive fire.”
Day said freshman Jeremiah Smith, the top-ranked recruit nationally, has flashed and that sophomore Bryson Rodgers has looked good so far. He hopes that senior Jayden Ballard is ready to emerge.
“We need Jayden Ballard to step up in a big way,” Day said. “He’s got to be a contributor for us.”