COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — With Ohio State’s spring break in the books football players have returned to practice and head coach Ryan Day had to step in to an unfamiliar role.
Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day gave an update on the team’s progress through spring football in a news conference Tuesday afternoon and brought high-praise to a key positional group on offense.
Day said Tuesday’s practice was a bit on-and-off that included players in pads for the first time as the team gets back into the groove after spring break.
The Buckeyes have a completely revamped offense with rejuvenated offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who seems to have made himself at home in Columbus. The quarterback competition remains a focus as transfer Will Howard leads the way but Day started Tuesday’s news conference praising the running back room, calling it the best in the country.
Day coached the running back room for the first time after the departure of running backs coach Tony Alford to Michigan. “It’s been awesome,” said Day. “I think it is going to be good for them to see through the eyes of a quarterback. We have a very intelligent group in that room.”
The Buckeyes head coach does not plan on coaching the running backs for the long haul with the search for Alford’s replacement underway. “Would we like somebody that has recruited at a high level already here? Yeah, I think that would be ideal but that doesn’t necessarily mean that is going to make the best coach,” said Day.
Transfer running back Quinshon Judkins is joining returning starter TreVeyon Henderson, who lead a running back room that Day used multiple positive superlatives to describe. The players will also been part of the process to help choose the new coach.
Tuesday’s practice was the third of the spring for Ohio State as they are less than one month away from the April 13 intrasquad exhibition game.