Clemson football, led by Coach Dabo Swinney, is displaying initial interest in recruiting a Class of 2027 quarterback prospect named Ryan Day Jr. Interestingly, Ryan Day Jr. shares his name with his father, who happens to be the head coach of the Ohio State football team.

Ryan Day Jr., known as RJ, is a freshman at St. Francis DeSales in Columbus, Ohio, and already has two Division I offers as he wraps up his first year of high school. Last month, he and his father paid an unofficial visit to Clemson’s campus, where they met with Swinney and Tigers offensive coordinator Garrett Riley during RJ’s spring break.

Despite the historical rivalry between Clemson and Ohio State, with multiple meetings in College Football Playoffs and bowl games, RJ Day found the visit to Clemson comfortable and devoid of any awkwardness due to his father’s role.

RJ Day, standing at 6 feet and weighing 195 pounds, earned recognition as a first-team all-league selection during his freshman year at St. Francis DeSales. He showcased his skills by completing 70% of his passes for 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 300 yards and two touchdowns.

Having received scholarship offers from Boston College and Marshall, RJ Day has yet to receive an offer from Clemson. However, Clemson’s early interest in him is noteworthy, especially given the history between the two football programs.

HISTORY OF CLEMSON AND OHIO STATE

Clemson and Ohio State have a storied history in recent college football matchups. Clemson emerged victorious in the Orange Bowl at the end of the 2013 season with a 40-35 win and dominated the Buckeyes 31-0 in the 2016 CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl.

In a memorable 2019 CFP semifinal clash, Clemson triumphed over Ohio State in a thrilling contest that featured a quarterback duel between Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields, both now in the NFL. However, the game was marked by a controversial call that negated an OSU defensive touchdown.

Ohio State sought redemption in the 2020 College Football Playoff, securing a resounding 49-28 semifinal victory over Clemson at the Sugar Bowl. Since that defeat, Clemson and Coach Swinney have missed three consecutive CFP appearances.

Ahead of their fourth matchup, Swinney faced criticism from Buckeyes fans for ranking Ohio State, despite their CFP qualification, at No. 11 in his final coaches poll in 2020. This decision stemmed from Swinney’s stance on rewarding undefeated teams that had played more than six games during a season impacted by COVID-19.

Swinney clarified that his ranking of Ohio State was based on principle, not gamesmanship, emphasizing the disparity in the number of games played by different teams. Despite the controversy, Swinney commended Ohio State and Coach Day after their 2020 CFP semifinal win, expressing his support for their pursuit of the championship.

RJ Day highlighted the amicable relationship between Swinney and his father, who boasts an impressive record of 56-8 in five seasons at Ohio State, which extended to his own recruiting journey. During the Days’ visit to Upstate South Carolina in mid-March, RJ Day, who aims to follow in his father’s footsteps as a college quarterback, expressed his positive impressions of Clemson’s staff and facilities. He described feeling welcomed and appreciated the familial atmosphere within the Clemson community, attributing it to the culture fostered by Coach Swinney over the years. RJ Day expressed his desire to participate in Clemson’s high school camp in June, indicating his enthusiasm for further engagement with the program.