Ryan Day Talks Day One Of Buckeyes Fall Camp

COLUMBUS — Ohio State head coach Ryan Day met with reporters following the first practice of fall camp on Thursday. The Buckeyes have high expectations this season and Day answered plenty of questions about those expectations. He also answered questions about the personnel, the coaching staff, the future of the sport, and much more. The highlights of everything he had to say can be found below.

What have you learned about your teams after the way the last three seasons ended? You learn a lot. Every year you have to rebuild. “We’re calling them bricks. Bricks in the foundation. You won’t know how strong that foundation is until the storm comes.” He believes he has the right people in the right seats. “That started with the players.” Having guys come back, adding good guys from the portal. “Preseason is gonna be a critical part of this.” Guys have to have an edge to them. “We have to bring it.” “We’ve got to be a physical team.” They have to be able to play tough on the road.
They are already planning for the larger roster and they will be signing a larger class than normal. They are now recruiting tiers of players. Along with the players who are ready for the NFL after three years they are now targeting guys who will require more development. And sometimes those have been their best players. But they are making plans for the move to 105 but he still wants 120 and nothing has been finalized.
Tegra Tshabola needs to continue to show you know what you’re doing. “I think he’s done that.” Then it comes down to knowing how to do it. The technique and the calls, and then can you do it consistently over time. He’s shown that as well. Mickey Marotti does a great job of creating conflict and stress in the weight room and you see players respond.
When and how did you get used to the transactional nature of today’s CFB? Being in the NFL helped, but this is not the NFL. The game is changing but it’s a lot like with your team each year, you have to start over a bit because of all of the changes. It would be easy to throw up your hands and quit. It’s a great time to be at Ohio State. They have to continue to be leaders in this space.
Carson Hinzman was sick today. They held him out. Should be back tomorrow.
Carnell Tate’s limit is through the roof. There is no limit. You don’t typically hear him but you feel him when he’s out there. He takes pride in his route running. He is well prepared. He’s tough. The guys really like who he is. He showed last year he can do it. He needs to be a major contributor this year.
They are now at the 85 scholarship limit. Not gonna get into how but they allocated some of them out.
Would like to have the QB settled after the first week or two but that doesn’t always happen. You can’t force it. It didn’t happen last year.
“It’s really hard to identify what’s going on with the offensive line without pads on.”
The depth at RB? There haven’t been many times when they’ve had or needed five running backs. There are contingency plans but James Peoples and Sam Williams-Dixon need to be able to play. They have six guys in that room right now. “If we can be four deep there and stay healthy, we’ll be great.”
“I’m gonna try…” not to put too much out there about JJ Smith until he’s played a game. He’s talented and humble. “It’s special.”
On Kourt Williams’ retirement: He was disciplined immediately. He’s been a leader but has been decimated with injuries. It was hard for him to step away. He just interned in the NFL league office in New York. He will always be welcomed here.
Josh Simmons “can do some things that most can’t.” He’s very, very skilled and talented. The offseason has been a difference maker but time will tell. To think about where he was a year ago, they’re light years away from that.
What’s the dynamic like with you and your assistants during position battles? The goal of every assistant coach is to have his players grade out as champions. All of them. “If they’re hired to do a job, then they’ve gotta do it.” But it’s Day’s call at the end of the day, but the assistant coaches put forth the info and arguments.
He wants the identity of this team to be “the hardest-playing team in the country.”
The quarterbacks looked more fit and stronger. They moved better from this spring. The ball came out with more pace today. They had a better understanding of the offense. Now that they can huddle with the in-helmet communication, “Our guys have to learn how to say it in the huddle.” They handled all of that very well today.
What is the list of characteristics that determines a “hardest-working guy?” It’s discipline and skill. Being physically tough and being resilient when something doesn’t go well and bouncing back. Effort, attitude, and focus. All of the things that take no talent. Then comes the skill and working on techniques that you learn playing your position. “If we can do that, then we can maximize our talent.”
What sense of urgency are you getting from your veterans? A lot but every coach is saying that last year. The seniors were calling guys out in the summer for not putting in the plus-two when running or not going full speed in some workouts. Everybody thinks they’ve had a great summer but you never know until you get to the games.
Jermaine Mathews is working at nickel because he has quickness, twitch, and he’s competitive. He has to continue to build discipline in his life. The talent is definitely there.
Why not marquee recruiting event at the end of July? They talked about it but they went four weekends in June. There were no days off in June. He just felt they could use some time off, especially given the way they did in June. But they’ll assess it every year.
Did you ask Will Howard to change his body? “That started right when he got here.” He got challenged. He looks different and is moving different. He dedicated himself in the offseason. “He’s moving well for his size.” He lost weight and then put on good weight.
Tegra Tshabola wants to be here and wants to contribute at Ohio State. It matters to him and it will pay off for him if he continues to work and be consistent.
Has Will Howard been more accurate since his arrival? Yes, he was more accurate and there was more zip on his throws. But it’s day one.
What is required to be able to win games in the fourth quarter? You have to practice that way. That means in preseason you have to wear on each other. You have to force it. You have to pound it in practice and script the right opportunities. They won’t the ND games in the fourth quarter the last two years but they haven’t done it consistently. They need to do that this year.