Ohio State’s head coach declared his resignation.
Fourteen scholarship players from Ohio State’s 2023 squad have already accessed the transfer site. The Buckeyes had 11 transfer departures in total after both transfer windows of the previous year.
Ryan Day, the head coach of Ohio State in his fifth year, was asked if he was surprised by the increase of transfer departures during his appearance on 97.1 The Fan’s Morning Juice on Thursday.
“Not really,” Day responded. “There were definitely a couple in there with whom we spoke extensively. However, our roster really included more than five years of scholarships after COVID. We won’t quite reach the maximum of 85 full-ride scholarships that Division 1 FBS clubs are allowed to award. Considering who we have coming in, I believe we’ll be over here for a little while into the spring. We’ll have to figure things out. However, there was a moment because of COVID where there was a slight log jam.
“I believe that some of the guys who would have ended up as third string or who might not have considered themselves starters going into the next season were searching for other possibilities,” Day went on. And that’s essentially where college football is at the moment. Very different from earlier times. And they are ecstatic about the chance to play on the pitch and travel to another location.
Running backs Chip Trayanum and Evan Pryor, who are leaving Ohio State, have both found new homes thus far. Trayanum committed to Kentucky, while Pryor committed to Cincinnati.
So far this cycle, Trayanum is one of three players with starting potential who have left the programme. After all, when TreVeyon Henderson was injured during the regular season, he took over as the lead back for the Buckeyes.
Most notably, starting wide receiver Julian Fleming and quarterback Kyle McCord, both of Ohio State, were both added to the transfer site. Before going through the portal, McCord had an 11-1 record and a 24:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio over the course of 12 games. In contrast, Fleming has been the Buckeyes’ top perimeter blocker and WR3 for the last two seasons, starting every one of them.
When questioned about McCord’s exit on 97.1 The Fan on Thursday, Day responded, “I think this is a little bit unknown area for anybody around college football.” “Just the way things are set up, and I think this time of year being in December is probably the most unique—you have a lot going on right now, with your season ending and the portal opening, you’re getting ready for the bowl game, guys are deciding whether to declare, and you have high school recruiting.”
Day continued, saying, “It’s our responsibility to make sure we’re educating everyone and then planning for next year.” We believe that the set of guys we have is incredibly good and will return next year. While some of these guys must make difficult decisions, I am confident that we will have a strong roster the following season if some of these extremely gifted players choose to return and we combine them with the young players already in the programme as well as the players we are recruiting.
About that “very talented bunch of guys that we feel like are coming back next year,” Day stated that some players at Ohio State are aware that their careers have unfinished business and are unwilling to go on to the next stage until they have accomplished their goals while wearing the scarlet and grey.
Several third-year Buckeyes players who are eligible for the draft spring to mind. Some of them—defense end Jack Sawyer, defensive tackle Tylerik Williams, left guard Donovan Jackson, cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock, and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka—announced on Tuesday that they will participate in the Cotton Bowl on December 29th versus Missouri. However, none of them disclosed their choice for the upcoming season.
However, Day made a suggestion that some Buckeyes may have shared that information among themselves.
“As some guys have already ventured out, it’s an excellent chance for you to take the lead and announce, ‘Hey, I’m coming back. Who’s coming with me here? “Let’s go ahead and prepare this for next year,” Day stated on Thursday on 97.1 The Fan.
“There are a lot of individuals in that locker room that recognise the importance of developing the squad now, and we have some wonderful guys there.” And for others, it makes sense to move forward and join the NFL. Others, however, wish to return and continue their employment as Buckeyes.
