Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes quarterback Devin Brown impressing during bowl practice
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Buckeyes quarterback Devin Brown impressing during bowl practice
The Cotton Bowl isn’t the postseason game Ohio State wanted to be in this year, but it is absolutely a game the Buckeyes are motivated to win.
“We’ve had a good few weeks of practice,” Day said Wednesday during his National Signing Day press conference. “The Cotton Bowl is a great bowl, we have a really good opponent. So this is a great opportunity for Devin to go in and be the starter, and we want to finish this season the right way.”
Devin Brown, when healthy, backed up one-time Buckeyes starter Kyle McCord this season, and he’s officially getting the nod for No. 7 Ohio State’s top-10 showdown versus No. 9 Missouri in Dallas on Dec. 29.
Not only is the redshirt freshman in line to start, but he’s being given a shot to lead his team without having to look over his shoulder like he had to during his longstanding competition with McCord this past offseason, which actually carried into the first two games of the regular season.
“The plan is to play Devin,” Day said, when asked if Brown is the guy, or if Lincoln Kienholz will play, too.
“If the situation comes up to get Lincoln in the game, we would do that. But this is going to be Devin’s game to play.”
That said, Brown will compete with the true freshman Kienholz as well as incoming 2024 four-star prospect Air Noland — the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 5 quarterback this cycle — this coming offseason.
Day was asked Wednesday about how he’s approached handling his quarterback room since McCord entered the transfer portal.
“I think that competition is very, very healthy,” Day said. “I think Lincoln’s really been coming on. Excited to see Air get going here this spring. But fired up to see the way Devin’s been practicing the last few weeks. It’s been great for him now that he’s healthy and his ankle’s feeling better. It’s kind of like, ‘OK, take this thing and run’ and see how the next couple weeks go in terms of the way he handles himself.”
Day emphasized that Brown was “real close going into the season” to being the Buckeyes’ starter. His battle with McCord was back and forth, with both quarterbacks taking turns in the lead during training camp.
“I think the guys have seen what he’s been [doing],” Day said of Brown. “The last couple of practices have been very good.”
Brown starting for Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl gives the Buckeyes’ offense a new flavor for the final chapter of the 2023 campaign. His improvisation ability and dual-threat skill set bring a lot to the table.
Day was asked about the difference between Brown now and when Day made the decision to pick McCord as the team’s full-time QB1 early in the regular season.
“You wait to get into the game to kind of see it all,” Day said. “But I think it’s just the experience of getting more and more reps under your belt. But also when you’re with the ones and you’re with the starters all the time, I think you can play maybe a little bit more freely and not worry about making a mistake.
“And so that’s been good to see.”
Reviewing key Ohio State National Signing Day moments
To say that National Signing Day was eventful for Ohio State would be an understatement. It was a roller coaster, complete with a last-minute flip and a press conference for the ages that included two intermissions, one of which saw head coach Ryan Day get a pretty significant phone call from five-star defensive end Eddrick Houston.
Houston ended up signing with the Buckeyes, as did five-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith — the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2024 class — but only after hours more of drama surrounding Smith’s National Letter of Intent.
Lettermen Row recaps those moments and highlights other notes from the first day of the early signing period. Check it out here.
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Ryan Day says Larry Johnson ‘still has a passion for coaching,’ will be back for 2024 season
Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day squashed the yearly retirement rumor surrounding defensive line coach Larry Johnson.
And, when peppered with questions about the hiccups in Ohio State D-Line recruiting the last few cycles, Day voiced his support for the longtime Buckeyes assistant.
“He’s young in terms of his approach every day. He’s got a lot of energy, and he wants to continue to coach,” Day said.
For the full story, go here.
Transfer tracker: Breaking down Buckeyes moves, philosophy in transfer portal
Having trouble keeping track of all of Ohio State’s transfer portal departures?
Lettermen Row has you covered.
The Buckeyes have already seen 14 of their scholarship players hit the portal — including starting quarterback Kyle McCord, starting wide receiver Julian Fleming and key running back Chip Trayanum — and there could be more on the way soon.
Follow along here to stay up to date.
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Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 345 days
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