Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke to the media over Zoom call Monday about players that have impressed him, the state of the wide receiver room and the importance of development at different paces with young talent.
- Day was asked which players with less in-game experience have impressed early on, and he said he didn’t want to call out any individual player because he has been impressed with so many that he’d feel bad for who he left out.
- On Marvin Harrison, Day said he is a player who has made a lot of plays and is putting a lot of extra work in before and after practices. “Early impressions have been excellent.”
- Day emphasized the importance of converting in the red zone. “It’s a huge part of the offense.” Also said he has thought both Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields had been very good at converting when they were tasked with running the offense.
- More on the red zone, Day mentioned senior tight end Jeremy Ruckert as “a big-body target” that can be used down there.
- Day said sophomore Paris Johnson, who came to Ohio State has a tackle, has been “making great progress at guard.”
- Despite the amount of success they had last year, Day said there is still plenty for Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson to work on to continue to improve as wide receivers.
- Day keyed in on effort and attitude as things he has been happy about in spring practice. As far as concerns, Day said that playing “half a season” last year and missing all the time in the offseason has put the team behind as far as in-game reps.
- On TreVeyon Henderson, who lost his black stripe this weekend: “He’s done a good job, he’s had a good attitude he has a good work ethic,” and Day said he has done everything right to this point. “I think he’s going to have a really bright future here.”
- Day said there has been more of a focus on fundamentals and techniques and less on anything else in this year’s spring practices compared to previous seasons.
- On the format of Saturday’s spring game, there will be two teams at least for a half of football, and the second half may be more of a controlled scrimmage. Day also said that there has not been a decision made on if Ohio State will be tackling during that game.
- Day said he was really excited when he found out that Eddie George would be becoming the head coach at Tennessee State. “He’ll do great, he will. Coaching is a challenge… but he loves football, and I think a lot of young men will be impressed with his background.”
- Day said Jaxon Smith-Njigba will need to take that next step after having a strong freshman season. Said he had a solid spring and will need to have a great summer in order to do that.
- Having the amount of talent and experience in Olave, Ruckert and Wilson comes with pros and cons, Day said. He said the positives come with being a matchup problem for opponents and helping a young quarterback, but it can also be difficult because they all want the ball.
- Day said that Nicholas Petit-Frere’s absence at practice Monday was for a “short-term” reason.
- Day said “it’s going to be an adjustment phase” to go back to having fans in the stands, and that he is “very, very excited” for that. He also said he is hoping that it can be a “packed house” for when Ohio State plays Oregon in the home season opener this year.
- Also on the spring game Day said that the players will enjoy it. “I know our guys love that, because they’re all show-offs. That’s what I call them.”
- “When guys come in, the No. 1 thing they have to worry about is getting developed.” Day said that any player can have a different timetable for development compared to another for a wide amount of variables, even if a player comes in as a highly rated recruit.
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