"Team is gonna go as offensive line goes": Ohio State HC Ryan Day puts spotlight on offensive Line as crucial to 2024 season
Ryan Day is planning to take the Ohio State Buckeyes back to the top of the Big Ten. The Buckeyes haven't won their conference since 2020, and their division since 2021. To add insult to injury, the current national champion is their rival Michigan, who they haven't beaten since 2019—their supposed 2020 clash was canceled due to COVID-19.
To regain momentum in the Big Ten, Will Howard was brought in from Kansas State to be Ohio State's new quarterback after Kyle McCord was dismissed in the offseason. A key to the success of Howard will be the amount of protection he's afforded by the offensive line, and that is something Day knows.
On Tuesday, during their Big Ten Media Day presser, the coach said the following:
“Yeah, as you know, the O-line has been the area that we’ve been really, you know, locked in on, coming out of the summer, their bodies look different… They’ve had a good summer, but we know how important that is. I mean, you know, this, this team is going to go as the offensive line goes, this team is gonna go as a defensive line goes. So we know how important the offensive line is going to be.”
According to Ryan Day, competition is the key to progress in the O-line at Ohio State
Despite already having an established group of starters in his O-line last season, Day pointed out that a roster competition happened during their training camp.
“So I think that some guys who have really stepped up [tackle] Josh Fryar to me has had an unbelievable summer, [Donovan Jackson] has been a leader. When it comes to that right guard position, I think you’re gonna see, you know, Carson Hinzman and Seth [McLaughlin], they both can swing between center and guard."
He added:
“Then Tegra Tshabola is… another guy who stepped up and had a good summer. Luke Montgomery [as well]. We feel like we have some decent guys in there that can fill that role, but we gotta go put it on the field now and see how this training and everything that’s happened this summer is going to translate to being on the field.”
Ohio State opens up its 2024 season on August 31 against Akron. The game will be a home affair for them, and it will be played at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. Meanwhile, their first conference encounter will be on September 28 against Michigan State.