Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes might not be the odds on favorite to win the National Championship, but it’s no secret that both within the program and outside of it, the goal is to win it all in 2023. Day took the podium on Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days.
Here are three things we learned from Day on Tuesday.
What Did Ryan Day Say at Big Ten Media Days?
Day boasts a 56-8 record as the head coach of the Buckeyes, but has struggled to beat Michigan during his tenure. This season, the Buckeyes probably have their most talented team under Day and they’ll hope to both beat their rivals and win big in the postseason.
1) Jack Sawyer Was Instrumental In Re-Recruiting Ohio State’s Upperclassmen
Ohio State has such high expectations this season largely because the Buckeyes were able to bring back a host of potential draft picks. College Football Network has written about the effects of a strong NIL program and relationships in re-recruiting the roster, but Day mentioned that defensive end Jack Sawyer was the key driver in getting those players back.
Sawyer, Day said, was instrumental in getting several of the draft-eligible players back, just like he was instrumental in recruiting his class initially.
2) The Depth at Receiver Isn’t Quite Set
Ohio State has consistently put out first-round receivers over the course of the last decade. Emeka Egbuka is likely the next as the senior returned in 2024 despite both graduating and being draft eligible. Egbuka would have likely gone early this year, but chose to return , giving the Buckeyes a clear No. 1 at receiver.
Then there’s the youngsters: Sophomore Carnell Tate and freshman Jeremiah Smith. Both of those guys have likely locked up starting spots, but beyond that, things aren’t close to settled.
Day mentioned Brandon Inniss, Bryson Rodgers and Jayden Ballard as huge playmakers on the outside. However, we don’t yet know who will be the first guy off the bench for Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
3) Day Will Still Have His Hands On the Offense
Ohio State made the coaching splash of the offseason, luring UCLA head coach Chip Kelly to Columbus to be the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator. Thought Kelly is an offensive guru and Day is handing over the reins, Day isn’t completely abandoning his offensive roots.
Kelly will call plays, but Day will be there to make sure that everything, “fits within the context of the team,” implying that he’ll have at least a moderate amount of say over the Buckeyes’ overall offensive philosophy. He mentioned making sure what the offense does complements the defense.
Kelly has had complete autonomy of his offenses for years, so this is (at the very least) a storyline to monitor throughout the season.
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