COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Less than two months after winning a national championship, Ohio State’s road to a repeat began Monday morning with the opening day of spring practice.

“I’m never happy coming out of the first day,” coach Ryan Day said. “The first few days of spring practice are always brutal, especially with quarterbacks because that’s what I’m always watching. It was good. We just wanted to get guys moving and teach the young guys how to go.”

Though the Buckeyes enter the spring as national champs, Day said that the team is starting from scratch and that message starts with its leadership group.

“We have to rebuild the culture because this team hasn’t done anything. There’s guys on this team that don’t know the culture yet,” Day said. “The leaders of this group wanted to take some of the national championship things down in the facility because they realize we didn’t win a national championship. Last year’s team did. That’s a good start because that’s the right mentality to have.”

While Day will enter his seventh season at the helm this fall, the coaching staff looks different from the one that lifted the trophy in Atlanta on Jan. 20. Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles have departed from their coordinator positions. Brian Hartline takes over play-calling duties in his elevated role as offensive coordinator, and Matt Patricia comes in after two decades working in the NFL to lead the defense.

WATCH: Full news conference with Ryan Day

Position competitions are set to take place this spring as the Buckeyes look to replace 15 players who hope to be drafted next month.

“The number is certainly significant and as coaches we got to do our part and make sure we’re developing,” Day said. “We gotta be on our game as coaches and develop at a high level. Each coach is responsible for their room.”

Among the higher profile competitions will be the race to succeed quarterback Will Howard, with Julian Sayin considered the favorite. Returning backup Lincoln Keinholz and newcomer Tavien St. Clair will look to challenge.

Day said there’s so much that goes into winning the job and that the fight to become QB1 will come down to who is the “hardest working guy in the building”.

“To me it’s the process of understanding how to get better. When you make a mistake, you learn and grow from that mistake quickly ,” Day said. “A lot of it has to do with preparation.”

A total of 15 practices will take place in the span of four weeks, culminating in a spring showcase April 12 at Ohio Stadium.