Presser Bullets: Ryan Day to Allow Brian Hartline to Call Plays During Spring, Talks Quarterback Competition, Transfer Portal Additions, Plan for NIL

Ohio State had no new signatories on National Signing Day, but Ryan Day held a press conference to bow the 2023 recruiting round and touch on several other topics nonetheless.

The Buckeye head coach touched on Ohio State’s incoming freshman class, mentioned several of the recent additions to the Buckeyes’ transfer portal, talked about the upcoming quarterback competition and much more during an interview session at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Wednesday.

Day answered questions about who will call offensive plays for the Buckeyes in the future, named several players who will miss the spring with injury issues, and also talked about CJ Stroud’s draft decision in the NFL.

Eleven Warriors took notes on everything Day said below:

Ryan Day On call duties, Day says the Buckeyes “won’t decide any of that now,” but will allow Brian Hartline to call the offense at times in the spring and see how it goes. . Day says Tristan Gebbia “played in a rivalry game there, Oregon vs. Oregon State,” and wants to be a GA and coach in the future. “If he steps onto the pitch, he will be ready to go.” On the calls, Day says he wants to assess time management and how to “best remedy” time constraints by the end of the football season. Says he will make a decision on playcalling “in the next few months”. In promoting Hartline to offensive coordinator, Day says Hartline was already the best WR coach in the nation, but also handled an increased number of offensive responsibilities well last season. Day cites his NFL career and knowledge of offense as strengths. Day says Justin Frye “has the opportunity to be the best offensive line coach in America. You’ve seen what he’s done this season.” During the quarterback competition this offseason, Day said, “I’m thrilled to see these two guys go head-to-head. … When you look at the cast around them, you couldn’t be more excited to be a quarterback right now in college football.” Day says Kyle McCord has more experience, but it’s going to be “one hell of a competition.” Day hopes one of the quarterbacks will emerge as a starter when the spring comes out. Day says the Buckeyes “had some really competitive practices” with McCord and Devin Brown when CJ Stroud was away for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Of McCord, Day says “he’s grown up and I think he’s done a great job, his attitude has been great.” “We are really located in an ideal place for NIL.” Day says the Buckeye players have been “very successful,” but maybe not so much when it comes to new signings. “I am confident here in the next two months that we will have a very good plan in place.” “There is frustration” with NIL. “We have a vision of where we want to be.” Day says McCord and Brown will both get “a ton of reps” under center this offseason. “At the end of the day, he’ll be the guy our team believes in.” On the running back situation, Day says ‘we’re going to need everyone’. Day thinks he has a chance to be “really strong”. Julian Fleming, Emeka Egbuka, Tommy Eichenberg, TreVeyon Henderson, Mitchell Melton, Evan Pryor and Kourt Williams will all be out for the spring. Day says Josh Fryar “has a big challenge ahead of him” when it comes to stepping up at OT and the Buckeyes will bring in another transfer later if they have to. On CJ Stroud’s decision to declare, Day says he took a long time to figure things out and “I’m sure the decision wasn’t easy.” Day says “I was hoping” Stroud would stay. Day says the Buckeyes will move Tegra Tshabola to tackle and keep Matt Jones and Donovan Jackson at guard. Day says the Buckeyes are “working on” Fryar at left tackle. Day says the Buckeyes were “hoping Luke (Wypler) wouldn’t declare” for the NFL Draft. “This one, we didn’t expect it, and you have to know how to adapt.” Day says he hopes Wypler gets drafted early. Day says football’s most successful quarterbacks “all can move, they can create.” Day says it’s a great way to help a young offensive line. On the importance of having former players like James Laurinaitis in the squad, Day says “it’s exciting. … These are guys who understand what it’s like to be a player. here. They’ve been here before and they understand what it means.” Day says the feedback on Ohio State’s 2023 registrants has been “really good.” Day hopes the group can go further after spending a lot of time around the program. On the close nature of Georgia’s loss: “I know it’s motivating for our guys.” Day “felt like the time was right” to bring Laurinaitis in as an AG after his year at Notre Dame. On other programs trying to poach players via NIL: “It’s illegal to do it, so if people do it and it’s not enforced, it creates a grudge.” Day says the Buckeyes can’t give up as many big plays as they did on defense last year under Jim Knowles. On the Marvin Harrison Jr. targeting no-call, Day says Harrison was “knocked out” on the hit but was told after the hit was not “forced enough” for a targeting call.