Even after a spring filled with high energy and effort from his Ohio State football team, head coach Ryan Day isn’t satisfied — at least not yet.
While others around the country may feel good about where their teams stand, Day made it clear that the Buckeyes still have a long way to go, insisting Ohio State is far from meeting the standard required for the grind of a demanding season.
“I always say, I never feel good about anything,” Day said Monday. “Coming out of these practices, you never know what to think. I’ve talked to so many coaches across the country. How’s your team look? ‘Oh, they look really good.’ I don’t feel that way because I know what we have to do. I know the schedule, the play, I know what the expectations are, so we have to wake up early, we have to get to bed early, and we have to come in here and just attack every single day.”
Though Ryan Day said he’s been pleased with the Buckeyes’ effort through 12 spring practices, he added he can’t afford to be complacent, knowing there’s still plenty of work ahead.
“I wouldn’t say it’s one position group over another, but I think that the guys have played with a certain level of effort and intensity and practice every day. People who have gone to multiple practices have commented to me on how our guys are practicing, so I think that’s good,” Day said. “I know we need to go, so I’m not really content or satisfied with anything right now. We have to keep getting better.”
Much of Ohio State’s spring has been spent integrating a large group of newcomers, as 51 freshmen and transfers work to adjust to both the program’s expectations and the physical demands of the college game. And with only 15 total practices available in the spring period, Day emphasized the importance of maximizing each opportunity to build consistency.
The Buckeyes have also dealt with injuries, particularly in the running back room, with sophomores Bo Jackson and Isaiah West missing the spring following shoulder surgeries, while sophomore Anthony “Turbo” Rogers and freshman Legend Bey are also expected to be sidelined for the spring game.
While Day highlighted the spring game as an important opportunity to evaluate those available, it also serves as a first chance for many newcomers to experience a large crowd inside the ‘Shoe.
“It’s a great opportunity because of our numbers to let guys get out there and play in front of a good crowd. It sounds like we’re going to have a good crowd,” Day said. “For 51 of our new guys now, I guess not all of them will be participating, because a couple of guys will be dinged up, but that’ll be their first time playing in front of a crowd. So it’s a great opportunity for all of them to grade out and finish off their spring the right way. We’ve been grading every practice and really evaluating every practice.”
Ohio State will finish out its spring with practices on Wednesday and Friday before hosting its annual spring game at Ohio Stadium at noon on Saturday.
