Five Questions as Buckeyes kick off second week of training camp
COLUMBUS — No jobs at Ohio State are won in a week.
But the first few practices can certainly give a better idea of how those competitions might shake out by the end of training camp.
The Buckeyes now have four practices under their belts, and the full pads will just be going on Tuesday for the first time during this busy month. But the early returns have certainly been positive — even if there’s a long way still to go before the season opener.
“I think coming off of the summer, talking about how many guys made gold and how many Iron Buckeyes we had, that’s a great projection into what’s gonna happen in the fall,” Day said last week. “So if we can stay healthy and continue to work the way we’re working, we’re going to have a good season.”
The foundation for it is being built right now, and clearly there is no shortage of talent for the Buckeyes to work with as they try to sort through the depth chart ahead of the trip to Minnesota on Sept. 2.
So, what will shake out heading into Week Two and what was learned during the first few practices of camp? Lettermen Row is kicking off the next phase of training camp with Five Questions for the Buckeyes.
Will Ohio State name starting quarterback this week?
The target date was near the middle of training camp after a couple weeks of competition, which means a decision could already be coming soon at the most important position on the roster. Ryan Day has made it well known that his next quarterback needs to be getting first-team reps for as much of the month as possible before making a starting debut on the road against a Big Ten opponent. So, even if the battle remains close and the practice competitions will continue, Ohio State will likely be putting more focus on one guy by this time next week. C.J. Stroud remains the odds-on favorite and has continued to impress from the front of the line for the Buckeyes, and after nine months of being in the lead, that might make it easier for Day to pull the trigger on a pecking order at the top.
Can Miyan Williams maintain early lead for Buckeyes?
The coaching staff doesn’t just hand out reps randomly, especially when it comes to the first one in drills. Nothing is ever set in stone during the first week of practices, either — although it is certainly significant that Miyan Williams was leading the way for the running backs as camp opened. The Buckeyes have four guys who already look physically ready for the responsibility at tailback, and that’s going to make for a fascinating juggling job for position coach Tony Alford. Some sort of rotation is probably likely considering the talent Williams, Marcus Crowley, TreVeyon Henderson and goal-line dynamo Master Teague bring to the position. But Williams is at the head of the line right now, and that does provide a gauge of what Ohio State sees in his potential.
How much will freshmen Rushmen play?
There is no definitive timeline for Tyler Friday to return from the undisclosed injury that will keep him out for the majority of the season, if not all of it. The loss of a proven veteran who was certainly going to be a factor in the rotation for the Rushmen puts more pressure on the rest of the unit — and likely increases the chances that Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau will need to be ready on Day One. Sawyer appears far more advanced than the typical freshman, and his head start during spring camp and familiarity with position coach Larry Johnson’s techniques give him the edge at this point. It would be a major surprise if Sawyer wasn’t contributing in that opener against the Gophers.
Where do all secondary pieces fit for Ohio State?
Kerry Coombs was in a short-handed scramble for essentially his entire first season as the Buckeyes defensive coordinator. Whatever positional versatility or schematic tweaks he wanted to bring back to Ohio State from the NFL level had to be put on hold in favor of simply surviving from week to week. But he certainly won’t have that problem this season as the Buckeyes get back to full strength with an embarrassment of talented riches in the secondary. The tricky part is figuring out how best to utilize all that skill and athleticism. It helps to have confidence in veteran cornerbacks like Sevyn Banks and Cameron Brown as cornerstones with Josh Proctor coming into his own at safety. From there, though, Ohio State could be looking at six or seven other guys in the mix for roles — which adds to the intrigue for what exactly Coombs has planned this year.
Will Josh Fryar snag final offensive line spot?
A strong spring has carried directly over into training camp, and the open spot at left guard appears to be Josh Fryar’s for the taking. The Buckeyes won’t be in a big rush to name a depth chart up front, but there is always value in chemistry and consistency for that unit. Fryar has been a steady presence next to Thayer Munford on the left side, and the return of Harry Miller from injury gives Ohio State five-star potential at center. With Paris Johnson and Nicholas Petit-Frere entrenched on the right side, the Buckeyes might already have an established group that could be the best in the country.
