COLUMBUS — Ohio State opened up its spring session on Tuesday with the first of 15 practices as it prepares for the 2024 season.
Head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly spoke on the Buckeyes’ first practice and provided details on everything from the upcoming quarterback battle to what to expect this offseason.
“It’s been fun to come to work every day because you know you’re gonna get challenged,” Day said of hiring Kelly.
Here’s what both coaches had to say:
What did Day say?
• On Sonny Style’s move to linebacker: “We want to put guys in position to be the most successful they can. Sonny wants to do whatever he can to help the team. We know his skillset is versatile.” Said he’ll do some other things as time goes on.”
• On Kelly’s offensive reputation: “He brings a background of running the football that’s really impressive,”
• On backing off the quarterbacks: “I’ll still be very much in evolved but Chip is gonna run it.”
• Dividing up spring reps: “The more we can get the better.” Said they got 150 reps on Day 1.
• Think Luke Montgomery could have a high ceiling at guard with some of the run schemes they want to run this season
• “When you’re the play-caller you want to be in lockstep with the quarterback.”
• On getting to walk around practice more than in the past: “It just allows me to be more present with the whole operation.”
• For now the plan with the quarterbacks is to “just let them go play.” Everybody’s getting reps with everyone during the first quarter of the spring.
• Carson Hinzman had a really good past couple of months: “His numbers in the weight room are very, very good.” Said he’s “fired up to see what he looks like this spring.”
• Kelly has already made some tweaks to the run game that Day likes.
• On Julian Sayin and Air Noland: “They’re learning what to do, that’s the first level, then how to do it, then why you’re doing it.” On what he wants to see: Making great decisions and taking care of the football.
What did Kelly say?
• This is his first time actually coaching a position since 2008 when he was still the offensive coordinator at Oregon.
• He’s been impressed with the offensive line’s athleticism, but the scheme will be a work in progress.
• On how he left UCLA: “I got an opportunity to tell my players personally.” Said he wanted to explain why he was leaving. Backed the hiring of DeShaun Foster.
• On Will Howard: “You don’t have to talk to Will for more than 5 minutes to know where he’s coming from.”
• On when to name a starting quarterback: “Every time I’ve been involved in these, when it’s organic is when it’s the best.”
