Media availability: Ryan Day says Ohio State’s offensive line remains his main area of ​​focus, expresses excitement for preseason after Buckeyes have ‘great summer’

Ryan Day met with the media for the first time since June 18 to discuss the Buckeyes’ preseason preparations, raving about the experience he’s had with Ohio State after so many of its stars returned.

The offensive line remains Day’s focus heading into fall camp, with Day looking to bolster his receiver depth by adding Brandon Inniss, Jayden Ballard, Bryson Rodgers and Kojo Antwi. Day also discussed some of the constraints Chip Kelly places on him as an offensive coordinator, calling him “one of the best offensive minds in college football history.”

A few hours after his appearance on the stand, Day met with the media for an additional 45 minutes. He covered more detailed questions now that Kelly is in tow, running back options and other freshmen who have shined.

• The day began by thanking Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti for his leadership and “great conversations.”

• Speaking of leadership, Day had a shout-out to Ohio State’s new athletic director, Ross Bjork. “As we’ve transitioned from Gene to Ross as the athletic director, it’s been great to spend time with Ross. … We’re very, very excited to have him as our leader in the athletic department. … I think he has a very bright future at Ohio State.”

• Speaking of the 12 players who returned despite their NFL draft status, Day said he loved what he saw from his team this offseason. “It’s been an exciting preseason for us. It’s been a great summer. … It was really hard to name three guys to come (to Big Ten Media Days). … You can see the look in their eyes. It’s a special group.”

• Day said cornerback Denzel Burke has a chance to be “the best cornerback in America” ​​this year.

• Emeka Egbuka is reaching his full potential now that he is healthy, Day said.

• Finally, among those who spoke on behalf of Ohio State Tuesday, Day cited Jack Sawyer’s leadership in bringing back many other players because the team has “unfinished business.”

• On the offensive line: “The offensive line is where we’ve really focused. I think coming out of the summer, their bodies look different. This team is going to evolve based on the offensive line. I think some guys have really stepped up. I think Josh Fryar had an incredible summer.” Carson Hinzman, Tegra Tshabola, Luke Montgomery and Seth McLaughlin are all options at right guard, Day said.

• On receiver depth, he said: “We’re a little bit top heavy there, and then where’s the four, five, six and seven.” Day added that the team can “feel” Brandon Inniss when he’s on the field and that senior receiver Jayden Ballard is someone “we need to develop.” He also referenced Bryson Rodgers and Kojo Antwi in the same vein.

• While Ohio State isn’t giving up on its national title ambitions, Day said the team must focus on the present to reach those heights. “Anytime you’re at Ohio State, there’s always going to be chatter, there’s always going to be noise.”

• On how having Chip Kelly running his offense changes his approach on game day: “Before every game, we’ll have a game plan in place. Chip has one job, which is to run the offense, my job is to see what’s on the horizon. … Chip is one of the best offensive minds in college football history, in my opinion. … In terms of game management, it’ll allow me the opportunity to be on both sides of the ball and special teams.”

Small group working session

• On how the summer went: “There’s a great energy around this team. They know what they want. There’s an energy, there’s a goal… Nothing’s going to be given to us.”

• On the tight competition at quarterback: “We wanted to get through the spring…the first few weeks of fall camp will give us a better idea of ​​where everyone fits.”

• Day added that “experience matters” when it comes to Will Howard.

• While Day doesn’t want to create expectations for Jeremiah Smith before he plays, it’s easy to see why he could be great. “It’s easy to see how talented he is. I think what you recognize is how good he is at things that aren’t talent-related.”

• One of Ohio State’s main goals this offseason has been to make sure games aren’t left in the hands of the referees or a fluke or two. “Don’t leave any doubt when you’re on the field.”

• Day is working with Chip Kelly to figure out what system is best and what tactics the Buckeyes offense can use. “We have playbooks from way back, we have video from way back… What’s the best fit for our guys and what’s our fastball?”

• On running the ball: “We knew we needed a quarterback who could run. At least one who could run. … It’s exciting. The running backs are excited, the offensive line is excited. … We know to win games, we have to win, we’re going to have to do that.”

• Ohio State’s quarterback depth allows them to run, Day said. “When you have a five-quarterback room, you can be a little more aggressive.”

• Day believes the 12-team playoff is “a good thing for college football,” saying more teams will be in contention over the course of the season. Depth will be important for schools, he added.

• On what it feels like to call the right play in a big game: “There’s a lot that goes into it, all the preparation. It’s exhilarating when you get there.”

• Caleb Downs will start his career exclusively as a safety, but he could play safety and have a shot at running back, as Day has indicated in the past. “At the time, it was more about Caleb… He has the ability. Do we want to give him all that right away? That’s certainly something he’s interested in.”

• Day was impressed with Julian Sayin’s mental and physical quickness at quarterback. “He’s very fast. He’s very, very wiry … from the waist up.”

• While Day is pleased with Ohio State’s progress on the NIL front, he believes being part of a brand as big as the Buckeyes in a city as big as Columbus brings added value to the players. “The value of being an Ohio State football player in Columbus is extremely high.”

• Day spoke about how Jack Sawyer and Cody Simon helped bring so many veterans home and believes the main motivation for people to come back is the pursuit of unfulfilled goals. “To me, the term was unfinished business. … Each of them kind of made their own decision, but communication played a big part.”

• Day said McLaughlin and Hinzman both had very good summers. He thinks Hinzman can have a “great career” at Ohio State and that last year was maybe a little too early in his development. “I think they both had very good offseasons.”

• More on Hinzman from last year: “He fought every day. … And he changed his body.”

• On how Ohio State will split backfield reps between TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins: “Coach Locklyn will ultimately be in charge of how we run the ball. But both guys will get a lot of carries.”

• On Locklyn: “It was great to see in such a short period of time his passion for the game. … He asks his players to play hard, you can see it right from the start. His players love him.”

• Day said McLaughlin hasn’t had consistent snapping issues so far this offseason.

• On the veteran locker room: “That’s what makes this team so exciting. Having all these guys with their experience.”

• Ohio State plans to remain “aggressive” in recruiting in the transfer portal, and Day is confident in the pitch he can make with the team he coaches and the city it’s located in. “It’s a great time to be at Ohio State. We have a lot to sell.”

• More on expectations for the year: “You owe it to the guys that came back. They came back for a reason. … We’re thinking big and these guys are thinking big … but that’s not the point. … These guys are having a great summer.”

• Day said the 120-man roster is what “works” and what coaches are comfortable with in college football and that “adjustments” would be needed to get to the proposed 105-man roster.

• Day expects Egbuka to be versatile in this year’s offense. “There’s not much Emeka can’t do.”

• On other freshmen who stand out besides Jeremiah Smith: “Both running backs are going to have to play. … On defense, Eddrick Houston has probably shined the most, but it’s tough to get on the field with our depth at defensive end. … Aaron Scott, as the spring has gone on, has shined more and more.”

• Fryar is an “option” at guard, but it doesn’t appear that’s where he’ll play this season. “Right now, he’s our right tackle.”

• On revenue sharing and the NIL: “I think we all need to come together to achieve some uniformity.”

• Beyond Downs, Brandon Inniss and Egbuka are players Day could see carrying the ball out of the backfield if necessary.

• Injury-wise, TC Caffey is expected to be the only player not ready for fall camp.

• Day believes the NIL collectives will remain in the process until there is enough enforcement action — from a third party, Day said — to establish appropriate NIL guidelines. “I still think they’re going to be part of this process until there’s a structure with a cap and stuff.”

• Day drew a parallel between the uncertainty surrounding Ohio State building its first Ohio Stadium and the current state of college football. There is uncertainty in both situations, but in both cases there is a great community around those entities, he said.

• Regardless of whether it means 17 games are needed to win a national championship, Day said he loves and will always want to play in the Big Ten championship game.

• On his thoughts on the new college football video game: “RJ (my son) plays it and I tell him what to do.”