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2021 Spring Practices, Game, and Tidbits

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REP CYCLE CONTINUES AT QUARTERBACK

While McCord remained at the tail end of the order on Monday, there were certainly moments that showed why the true freshman should not be counted out in the quarterback competition. The two best throws I saw during the open portion of practice were a pair of perfectly placed deep balls from McCord to Chris Olave and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He also went 3-for-3 in the red zone passing drill, with touchdown tosses to Jeremy Ruckert and Steele Chambers (though Chambers was left wide open).

Miller went 3-for-6 in red zone passing, with touchdown throws to Garrett Wilson and one to Marvin Harrison Jr., while Stroud went 2-for-3 with one touchdown pass each to Wilson and Harrison.

FRYAR, WYPLER ON THE FIRST TEAM

CLIPS FROM PRACTICE




How Buckeyes are handling offensive tackle depth

Garrett Wilson finding another gear for Ohio State

Noah Potter has chance to help Buckeyes defensive line

Tyreke Johnson still pushing to help secondary



Here were some of the observations from today:

* Not to read anything too deep into this but the order at quarterback remained C.J. Stroud, Jack Miller and Kyle McCord.

* RB Master Teague was present but was not doing much on the field, including no 11-on-11 stuff. Looked like Miyan Williams was repping with the ones.

* The offense three deep seemed to be:

WR – Olave, Harrison, Xavier Johnson

WR – Wilson, Egbuka (slot), Wiglusz

TE – Ruckert, Stover, Hart

LT – Munford, Vimahi, Michalski

LG – Fryar, Jamieson, Leroux

C – Wypler, Matthew Jones, Jakob James

RG – Johnson, Jacoby, Stevenson

RT – Dawand Jones, Toutant, Christman

QB – Stroud, Miller, McCord

RB – Miyan Williams, Chambers/Henderson split, Pryor

WR – Jaxson Smith-Njigba (slot), Jameson Williams, Fleming

Again, just a snapshot, don’t make too big a deal about it right now. Obviously, some guys were missing like Nick Petit-Frere, who is starting at RT, and Teague. Gee Scott also out right now, as is Harry Miller (though he was in uniform and doing some limited stuff).
 
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HotMic said:
Harrison already running with the 2’s and had multiple TD catches again today. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility for him to be #4 by the time the season starts behind Olave, Wilson and JSN.
Click to expand...



RYAN DAY
  • "I think a lot of guys are getting better because we're practicing." He says this stretch of practices that Ohio State has had recently is "where you get better" as a team. "Guys are getting better across the board."
  • Why Marvin Harrison Jr. lost his black stripe so quickly: "A lot of discipline. Excellent attention to detail with his routes. Someone who cares a lot." He calls Harrison a "freshman with a long way to go" but someone whose early impressions have been "excellent."
  • Day says Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields were "excellent" in the red zone, so they know how important that is for an offense.
  • He says big-bodied targets are important in the red zone. "(Jeremy) Ruckert's a big target down there." ... "It's always an area of emphasis, but we do have some good targets down there."
  • On the movement on the offensive line in practice: "We move guys around all the time." He says versatility is a "huge value for us."
  • "We do like the fact that Paris (Johnson) is making great progress at guard."
  • What Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave are working on: "Playing on edges, being more physical, attention to detail and route-running, finishing plays with the ball, spacing out routes in zone. There's a lot of areas there. Blocking – huge."
  • He's pleased with the team's focus and energy this spring. On his team: "I think the biggest concern I would have is in terms of playing the game, we missed a whole half of the season last year."
  • On summer workouts coming: "We've got to hit the ground running. We can't lose any days, any weeks as we move into August."
  • Asked about TreVeyon Henderson: "He's got a good attitude. He's got a good work ethic. He's done everything right thus far." He says "the talent is there." ... "Excited to see what he looks like during the spring game."
  • On spring ball: "It's been such a focus on fundamentals and techniques and not really so much about anything else." In the second phase of the spring, they've started to do more situational work.
  • Day says this year's spring game will be broken up into two teams for at least a half. They'll decide whether they actually tackle in the middle of the week. In the second half, it'll be "more of a controlled scrimmage atmosphere."
  • On the quarterback competition: "Guys have had good days. Guys have had not-so-good days." He says they "need a million reps."
  • On Eddie George becoming Tennessee State's head coach: "I saw that yesterday. I was really excited for him." He says George "will do great." ... "I think a lot of young men will be impressed with his background."
  • Asked about Jaxon Smith-Njigba: "He had a good year last year, but now he has to take the next step." Smith-Njigba has had a "good, solid spring" and they want him to have a "great summer." Day has been impressed with his blocking, which was a focus. ... "He can do so many great things, he just needs to be more consistent."
  • Day stresses the importance of Olave, Wilson and Jeremy Ruckert understanding they have to be unselfish with all of the talent on the team.
  • He says Nicholas Petit-Frere, who missed Monday's practice, will be back soon.
  • On the depth at offensive line: "I feel great. Feel great. I feel like we have really good depth."
  • Day says they've heard about possibly being able to bring in official visitors in June and work them out on a one-on-one basis.
  • On the spring game having fans: "Thank goodness that we're able to get some people in the stands." ... "I know our guys love that because they're all show-offs. That's what I call them." He says they're hoping to get "a packed house here when Oregon comes to town."
  • The faster players can create skill and discipline, Day says, the faster guys will be able to become impact guys at Ohio State.
 
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9. TIGHT END
The Buckeyes might have the country’s best tight end on their roster in Jeremy Ruckert. They also have undeniable questions surrounding the rest of the position. Cade Stover seems to have the inside track to back Ruckert up, but he converted from the defensive side of the ball a year ago and played five snaps at tight end in 2020.

The other guys in the room are two walk-ons (Mitch Rossi and Corey Rau), a redshirt freshman who didn’t see the field last season (Joe Royer) and an incoming three-star recruit (Sam Hart). Gee Scott Jr. is learning the position, too. Ohio State’s coaches can sleep soundly knowing they have a stud starter, but there are no proven commodities outside of Ruckert.

8. LINEBACKER

Sure, there’s plenty of untapped potential in a room that includes numerous four-star recruits, including Teradja Mitchell, Dallas Gant, Cody Simon and Reid Carrico, but they’re also mostly unproven as Buckeyes. Outside of Mitchell and Gant, both of whom are projected starters, no returning linebacker played more than 39 snaps last season. Injuries to Gant and Mitchell Melton aren’t helping either.

7. SAFETY

6. QUARTERBACK

5. CORNERBACK

Projected starting outside cornerbacks Sevyn Banks and Cameron Brown could be backed up by second-years Ryan Watts and Lejond Cavazos, fourth-year Tyreke Johnson and incoming top-75 recruits Jordan Hancock and Jakailin Johnson. None of the second-string or third-string options have proven much of anything in games as Buckeyes, but the position-wide talent is on the upswing. At slot cornerback, Marcus Williamson returns with a year of experience, and both Ransom and Martinez could get some run there, too.

4. DEFENSIVE LINE

3. OFFENSIVE LINE

2. RUNNING BACK

1. WIDE RECEIVER

Just an incredible collection of talent resides in Brian Hartline’s receiver room. Ohio State simultaneously might have the best duo of wideouts in the country – Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson – and the deepest position group in the country behind them.

If Jameson Williams starts again, that would mean three one-time five-star recruits – Julian Fleming, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Emeka Egbuka – could serve as the three primary backups. The Buckeyes also have Jaylen Harris, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jayden Ballard and Kamryn Babb, all of whom were once high-end four-star prospects. Scott could end up staying at wideout, too. Truly, it’s staggering how many potential stud receivers are currently Buckeyes.
 
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DuXN0HGm


He may not be "cleared for contact", but he is participating in the practices.
 
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PARIS JOHNSON

CRAIG YOUNG

LATHAN RANSOM

TERADJA MITCHELL

TARON VINCENT

TREVEYON HENDERSON

LUKE WYPLER

JACK SAWYER

MIYAN WILLIAMS

C.J. STROUD/JACK MILLER/KYLE MCCORD



WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

DB Lathan Ransom

RB TreVeyon Henderson

CB Ryan Watts

TE Cade Stover
 
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BRIAN HARTLINE
  • On Jaxon Smith-Njigba: “Jaxon has done a great job spring-wise.” He says Smith-Njigba started off hot in March, had a dip in his performance in the middle of spring camp, then bounced back. “He may be our best blocker in the room.”
  • Hartline says Julian Fleming and several others have been “robbed” of “crucial development time.” He mentions Fleming has been practicing with a linebacker strap on his shoulder. “The kid is probably one of the toughest kids I've ever been around.” ... “The guy's been operating at 75 percent for the last couple years.” He says Fleming has one of the best speed-size combinations he has ever seen in college football.
  • The Buckeyes will get "creative" to spread the ball around, he says, and "have a little fun with it."
  • Younger quarterbacks force wide receivers to be more detailed. "I think it's awesome."
  • On Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr: "They don't carry themselves like freshmen. They don't act like freshmen." He says they have "pretty limited missed assignments" which shows how they've taken what they're learned in the meeting room to the field.
  • "I would say that coach (Ryan) Day does a great job developing our offenses based on our personnel." He says it's the job of the wide receivers to show that they shouldn't get taken off the field for multi-tight ends as often as happened last season.




 
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Austin Ward: Marvin Harrison earns MVP honors for Buckeyes

Birm: Jack Sawyer will rack up three ‘sacks’ for Ohio State

Spencer Holbrook: Emeka Egbuka scores twice for Buckeyes

Tim May: Ohio State defensive line has sack lunch

Pete Nakos: TreVeyon Henderson shines at tailback for Buckeyes



 
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There are some differences this year, however, as the squads will be split into even teams known as “Team Brutus” and “Team Buckeye.” They will play one half of football. Offensive players will remain in their scarlet jerseys and defensive players will stay in the customary white jerseys. The second half will be more of a controlled scrimmage featuring offense vs. defense.

Defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs is the head coach for Team Brutus, while offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson will be at the helm for Team Buckeye. The first half will consist of two 10-minute quarters, while the second half will have no quarter break but at least one television timeout for the Big Ten Network which is airing the game....:no:

Some additional game operational notes:

* Offensive players for each team will wear their typical scarlet jerseys and all defensive players will wear gray jerseys.
* Team Buckeye will be on the home, or west, sidelines and will feature quarterbacks #9 Jack Miller and #19 Jagger LaRoe.
* Team Brutus will be on the visitor, or east, sidelines and will feature quarterbacks #7 C.J. Stroud, #14 Kyle McCord and #18 J.P. Andrade.
* There will be no kickoffs. All drives will start on the 35.
* Field goals and extra points will be live. They’ll be live!
* All punts will be fair caught.
* Quarterbacks will be in black jerseys and off limits.
* Tackling protocol will be thud tempo.
* At the first/second quarter break all the captains off the 2020 team except Wyatt Davis, plus tight ends Luke Farrell and Jake Hausmann, are expected to be at the game to receive their Big Ten Conference/Sugar Bowl championship rings.
* Halftime will be 12 minutes and it will feature an on-field performance by the Ohio State Spring Athletic Band.
 
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