Ryan Day recalls Clemson, South Carolina visits by son RJ Day

Class of 2027 quarterback RJ Day is enjoying the recruiting process, even with his father Ryan Day being the head coach at Ohio State.

Ryan Day recently joined Morning Juice to discuss what it’s like being a head football coach at a prominent program, while also having a son who is being recruited.

“Growing up I wasn’t sure if he’d like football or not. There was a point where I didn’t think he had any chance of being an athlete,” Ryan Day said of RJ Day. “We actually have some videos of it. We laugh with the girls about it. But he’s embraced it and he just loves it. It’s his life.”

Ryan Day is a fierce competitor on game days, but he also has a lot of respect for several college football coaches around the country.

That includes South Carolina coach Shane Beamer and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. RJ Day recently took a visit to both of those programs in the Palmetto State.

“I get an opportunity to be around some great people in the sport. So more importantly just try to expose him to different people and connections and see it from a different lens,” Ryan Day said. “He gets to see what happens at Ohio State, but to go down and visit a Clemson, visit South Carolina. Dabo and Shane both do an unbelievable job down there. So just try to get him around great people.”

Ryan Day played college football at New Hampshire, before getting into coaching. He is now considered one of the top coaches in college football.

Day is thankful for what the sport of football has done for him, and he is hopeful that it will have a similar impact on the life of RJ Day.

“This game of football… I think about what it’s done for my family,” Ryan Day said. “It’s our job to make sure we continue with the next generation and respecting the sport and continuing those relationships.”

Ryan Day stresses importance of ‘transparency’ with players

Coaches across the country have had to learn how to navigate the new era of NIL and the transfer portal and it certainly isn’t easy. Ohio State coach Ryan Day, though, seems to have a better grasp on it than most.

The Buckeyes have seen 26 players depart since the season ended, but the majority of the players exiting were role players or reserves. And the Buckeyes lost only six players to the transfer portal in the spring window.

Day thinks that’s in part because of his approach.

“I think that’s what you said, the transparency,” Day said, speaking about the transfer portal on the Morning Juice podcast. “It starts in the recruiting and then it continues through. So even during spring practice you have to communicate to these guys where they stand and you have to be transparent so there’s no surprises.”