When Ohio State takes the field for the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29, it is expected to be redshirt freshman quarterback Devin Brown under center, head coach Ryan Day indicated on Thursday, and Day is excited to see what Brown can bring to Ohio State’s offense as it looks to close out the season with a win.
“This is a great opportunity for Devin to take over this team and run with it,” Day said on 97.1 The Fan. “I know he’s very, very excited about that.”
Brown’s opportunity arose following the transfer of Kyle McCord, who started all 12 games for Ohio State during the regular season. Brown began the season as a backup to McCord after the latter won the job in an extended battle that stretched into the regular season, and Brown eventually saw the field in relief of McCord as well as some goal-line packages built specifically for Brown.
But now, Brown’s first expected career start will be in a top-10 battle with Missouri, and it serves as a potential audition for next season, with the Buckeyes currently without a clear starting quarterback as the offseason approaches.
“I’m pumped,” Brown said Tuesday. “I can’t believe my first start’s going to be in the Cotton Bowl. It’s a big stage against a really good team. It’s a top-10 matchup. I’m just excited to go out there and show what I can do.”
Outside of Brown, the Buckeyes will also likely see some action for freshman quarterback Lincoln Kienholz. He attempted just two passes in the regular season, but a month of bowl practice as the backup will be significant for Kienholz entering an important offseason for the soon-to-be redshirt freshman, who could compete with Brown for the starting job next season.
“We’re very excited about Lincoln,” Day said. “He’s going to have bowl practice, which is almost like spring practice. Now, we play a little bit earlier this year, on (Dec. 29), so we’re not going to have maybe as many practices. But we’ve already had a few, and we’re going to have more this week and then some down at the bowl practice site down in Dallas.
“Lincoln’s a great example of somebody who came in in the summer, and you use these bowl practices to get better. And he’s been in a game already, so who knows? We’ll see how the game shakes out.”
