Ryan Day talks Ohio State spring practice, recruiting and individual performance

Spring practice has eclipsed the halfway point in Columbus.

Ohio State is 9 practices into spring football and the spring game is looming for the Buckeyes. This is the time of year when players start to separate themselves and when the coaching staff starts to learn a little bit more about the team.

Monday, Day met with reporters to talk about a variety of things. He spoke on individual performances through the spring, injury updates, recruiting, Notre Dame preparation and, of course, spring game details.

It was an all-inclusive media session for the fourth-year head coach at Ohio State. Here’s what Day had to say while meeting with reporters to start the week:

Ryan Day meeting with the media this morning.

On Student Appreciation Day: “I thought Saturday was great.” Thanks Ohio State students for attending and said he and the players really appreciate their support.

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) April 4, 2022

Ryan Day said Gee Scott Jr. was back at practice today after missing practice last week. He said he expects Kamryn Babb and Lejond Cavazos to be available moving forward even though they were also absent from Student Appreciation Day.

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) April 4, 2022

Ryan Day said that the players respect Tanner McCalister.

“He’s a little bit of a player-coach because he knows the system and has been in the system."

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 4, 2022

Day said the great quarterbacks are the ones that are able to process the game at the same speed as a coach combined with the athleticism.

"That’s what separates the great ones in the NFL."

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 4, 2022

Ryan Day is asked if he was good at processing the field when he was a quarterback, and how big a part of his game that was.

“That was my only game,” Day quipped, noting his lack of athleticism.

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) April 4, 2022

On the Buckeye defensive line, Day says "the depth we've created is gonna be a huge advantage for us." Day says the 2s and 3s on the DL are further along than the 2s and 3s on the OL right now.

— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) April 4, 2022

Ryan Day said C.J. Stroud has remained “level headed” and hasn’t “rode the rollercoaster” of success.

“You can see his humility and how much he apperciates the support."

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 4, 2022

Ryan Day on Devin Brown: “Pleased with the first nine practices … The more reps he gets, the better he’s gonna be.”

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) April 4, 2022

Day says the Buckeyes are doing "some, but not a ton" of preparation specifically for Notre Dame at this stage in the offseason.

— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) April 4, 2022

Ryan Day on next week’s spring game: “Certainly looking for a great crowd there. I think that’s going to be a great day for us.”

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) April 4, 2022

On Gee Scott Jr., Day says the more "job descriptions" you can cross off as a tight end, the more you will get on the field. Day says "it takes a little time to learn those jobs."

— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) April 4, 2022

Ryan Day says the format of the spring game has not been determined yet. They'll figure out later this week based on how their depth is looking.

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) April 4, 2022

Ryan Day on recruiting: “We’re going to see the next couple of months a lot of good stuff come our way."

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 4, 2022

Ryan Day says Ohio State had a “great recruiting weekend.” Indicates that he expects the Buckeyes will be getting plenty of good news on that front over the next couple of months.

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) April 4, 2022

Ryan Day said once a player commits, he doesn’t like them taking visits to other schools. He wants them to be all-in and help them build the class.

For that reason, he wants kids to wait until they’re sure before they make their commitment.

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 4, 2022

Day said Babb has been healthy.

“He really has a chance to make an impact on this offense and I think he will." https://t.co/3dDYnwKzGI

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 4, 2022

Ryan Day says Ohio State needs more depth to emerge on the offensive line. “That's for sure.̦” Day says he feels good about the Buckeyes’ top five or six guys, but has concerns beyond that.

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) April 4, 2022

On Tommy Eichenberg, Day says his Rose Bowl performance has "given him some momentum, for sure." Day says his reps are starting to add up, and the Buckeyes are hoping he takes a big step up this season.

— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) April 4, 2022

Ryan Day says he thinks it’s difficult now for a freshman to come in and play immediately if they don’t enroll early, because of spring ball/workouts. “I wouldn’t have said that in the past.” He says there are exceptions to that, like J.T. Tuimoloau and Donovan Jackson last year.

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) April 4, 2022