Matt Tamanini
Guest
With Kyle McCord in the portal, who do you think should be Ohio State’s QB in 2024?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Also, what (if anything) are you looking forward to from the Cotton Bowl?
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
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I know that Kyle McCord wasn’t exactly everybody’s favorite Buckeye following the loss to Michigan last month, but I think that I can speak for just about all of Buckeye Nation in saying that I was still incredibly surprised that he entered his name in the transfer portal as soon as it opened.
But, for better or for worse, the Buckeyes will have a third starting quarterback in as many years when they take to the field in September 2024. As of now — if I’m being honest — none of the options are especially reassuring, even if they all bring their own level of potential and intrigue. Devin Brown is technically the backup, assuming he is healthy, so going into the Cotton Bowl against Missouri, I guess we should assume that he will get the first chance to take over as the starter.
While I was not particularly impressed with his limited snaps running the offense (I’m not counting his red zone running package), I am open to seeing what he is able to do getting the bulk of the bowl reps, if that is where the next three weeks take us. And, if he proves himself against Mizzou, I’m obviously ready to welcome him with open arms heading into next season.
However, I do think that there is a decently sized chance that true freshman Lincoln Kienholz might actually end up being the guy for the Cotton Bowl. Either because Brown’s injured ankle isn’t 100% or he just straight-up wins the job. While his time was also pretty limited this season, he looked pretty good, especially considering that he only got to Columbus in the summer. If his freakish South Dakotan athleticism proves enough for Day to make him QB1 for the Cotton Bowl, you’d have to assume that he would immediately jump to the front of the conversation for the fall.
Of course, there will be at least one guy in that room that isn’t in Columbus just yet. Five-star QB prospect Air Noland will be coming to campus in 2024, and while I think a ton of people ar rightly excited about what he could mean to the Ohio State offense, I am always very hesitant about even entertaining the idea that a true freshman could become a starting quarterback for the Buckeyes. So, I am holding off on getting too excited about what Air can do next season. If he ends up being the guy, great. I would still have reservations about his inexperience, but if you’ve watched his film at all, you know he’s got all of the tools.
Then that brings us to OSU potentially bringing somebody in from the transfer portal. I think it is almost a necessity that Day finds at least another body for the room, especially because if Kienholz wins the job, Brown will almost certainly depart. But the question is, would he be looking more for a Tristan Gebbia, Gunnar Hoak type of transfer, or a Justin Fields type?
There are some interesting names already in the portal, and some that still might land there, and it will be interesting to see what direction Day decides to go. If he is looking for a potential starter, does he opt for a guy with only a single year of eligibility left, essentially filling the role that McCord had occupied? If so, that player would almost certainly have to be assured of the starting job, otherwise, he wouldn’t want to waste his last chance to play college football holding a clipboard.
Of course, Day could also try to bring in a younger guy with multiple years of eligibility remaining to compete for the job. But, if he does go that route, how does that impact Kienholtz and Noland?
There are a lot of factors at play in this quarterback decision and Day needs to get it right, because if he doesn’t... he might not have any other decisions to make as the Buckeyes’ head coach.
I said it on Twitter when the transfer portal opened, but if this means that we get to see a bunch of the young players in meaningful reps against an SEC opponent in an exhibition game, then I am excited about the possibility of what the Cotton Bowl could bring.
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Also, what (if anything) are you looking forward to from the Cotton Bowl?
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
Take a look below and make sure to register your vote in the survey. Then, if you have additional thoughts, hit up the comments at the bottom of the page!
Question 1: With Kyle McCord in the transfer portal, who do you want to be the Buckeyes starting quarterback in 2024?
I know that Kyle McCord wasn’t exactly everybody’s favorite Buckeye following the loss to Michigan last month, but I think that I can speak for just about all of Buckeye Nation in saying that I was still incredibly surprised that he entered his name in the transfer portal as soon as it opened.
But, for better or for worse, the Buckeyes will have a third starting quarterback in as many years when they take to the field in September 2024. As of now — if I’m being honest — none of the options are especially reassuring, even if they all bring their own level of potential and intrigue. Devin Brown is technically the backup, assuming he is healthy, so going into the Cotton Bowl against Missouri, I guess we should assume that he will get the first chance to take over as the starter.
While I was not particularly impressed with his limited snaps running the offense (I’m not counting his red zone running package), I am open to seeing what he is able to do getting the bulk of the bowl reps, if that is where the next three weeks take us. And, if he proves himself against Mizzou, I’m obviously ready to welcome him with open arms heading into next season.
However, I do think that there is a decently sized chance that true freshman Lincoln Kienholz might actually end up being the guy for the Cotton Bowl. Either because Brown’s injured ankle isn’t 100% or he just straight-up wins the job. While his time was also pretty limited this season, he looked pretty good, especially considering that he only got to Columbus in the summer. If his freakish South Dakotan athleticism proves enough for Day to make him QB1 for the Cotton Bowl, you’d have to assume that he would immediately jump to the front of the conversation for the fall.
Of course, there will be at least one guy in that room that isn’t in Columbus just yet. Five-star QB prospect Air Noland will be coming to campus in 2024, and while I think a ton of people ar rightly excited about what he could mean to the Ohio State offense, I am always very hesitant about even entertaining the idea that a true freshman could become a starting quarterback for the Buckeyes. So, I am holding off on getting too excited about what Air can do next season. If he ends up being the guy, great. I would still have reservations about his inexperience, but if you’ve watched his film at all, you know he’s got all of the tools.
Then that brings us to OSU potentially bringing somebody in from the transfer portal. I think it is almost a necessity that Day finds at least another body for the room, especially because if Kienholz wins the job, Brown will almost certainly depart. But the question is, would he be looking more for a Tristan Gebbia, Gunnar Hoak type of transfer, or a Justin Fields type?
There are some interesting names already in the portal, and some that still might land there, and it will be interesting to see what direction Day decides to go. If he is looking for a potential starter, does he opt for a guy with only a single year of eligibility left, essentially filling the role that McCord had occupied? If so, that player would almost certainly have to be assured of the starting job, otherwise, he wouldn’t want to waste his last chance to play college football holding a clipboard.
Of course, Day could also try to bring in a younger guy with multiple years of eligibility remaining to compete for the job. But, if he does go that route, how does that impact Kienholtz and Noland?
There are a lot of factors at play in this quarterback decision and Day needs to get it right, because if he doesn’t... he might not have any other decisions to make as the Buckeyes’ head coach.
Question 2: What are you most looking forward to from the Cotton Bowl matchup with Missouri?
I said it on Twitter when the transfer portal opened, but if this means that we get to see a bunch of the young players in meaningful reps against an SEC opponent in an exhibition game, then I am excited about the possibility of what the Cotton Bowl could bring.
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Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Continue reading...