What we expect to hear from Buckeyes at B1G Media Days
COLUMBUS — Ohio State will head to Big Ten Media Days with head coach Ryan Day, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., tight end Cade Stover and defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau. The Buckeyes will take their turn in the spotlight Wednesday morning and afternoon.
Lettermen Row will be on-site in Indianapolis for both days of Big Ten Media Days this week, and the coverage is just beginning. With that in mind, we’re breaking down four topics the Buckeyes are expecting to answer in Indy this week.
Let’s dive in.
Buckeyes won’t be naming starting quarterback — but will boast about summer progress
It’s highly, highly unlikely that Ryan Day will step up to his podium on Wednesday and name a starting quarterback. The race to become the next starter between junior Kyle McCord and second-year quarterback Devin Brown, both former five-star recruits in their respective classes, will continue into at least the first couple of weeks of training camp — and potentially longer.
Even though Day won’t name a starting quarterback just yet, he will step up to the mic with a lot to say about the quarterback battle. Expect Day to praise both signal-callers for their impressive work ethics this summer. He’ll likely have plenty to talk about when it comes to what both of them could potentially bring to the offense if either is crowned as the Week One starting quarterback.
Oh, and pass-catchers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Cade Stover will be able to speak about the two prospective starting quarterbacks as well. There will be plenty to say about McCord and Brown heading into training camp’s opening late next week.
Ohio State is looking better defensively
Ohio State is sending just one defensive representative to the podium in Indianapolis, and that will be junior defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau. Of course, Ryan Day will also be there to talk about the defense, as well, even as an offensive-minded and quarterback-minded head coach. But Tuimoloau will be tasked with answering the tough questions from reporters from around the league about the progress — or lack thereof — of the defense in Year Two under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
Tuimoloau will certainly have good things to say about a defense that he is confident in, much like he did when it was his turn on the mic during Buckeyes spring practice. This is a team that added talented pieces from the transfer portal, returned plenty of its top playmakers from a season ago and will be deeper than it has been on that side of the ball in a few years. Tuimoloau will talk highly of this defense — and for good reasons. Expect the same if the offensive skill players heading to Indy with him parrot that.
Buckeyes leadership at forefront of offseason programs
Ohio State looked into the structure of the leadership programs this offseason, and the Buckeyes believe they’re better-led than they were last year or two years ago. It starts with the returning captains, including senior tight end Cade Stover. The star tight end for the Buckeyes will be at Big Ten Media Days to speak about his leadership and the overall strength of leadership within the program. Tuimoloau and Harrison are expected to be leaders for the program, potentially becoming captains once training camp kicks into full swing next month.
The Buckeyes will have plenty to say on Wednesday about their leadership and the strides they’ve made in that aspect this offseason.
Ohio State has tools, talent to win Big Ten and national title
The Buckeyes were picked as the second-best team in the Big Ten by voters Tuesday morning, and the margin between them and first-place Michigan is quite large. The Wolverines received 18 more first-place votes than Ohio State in the annual preseason poll. But don’t expect Ohio State to view itself as the underdog this fall, although it certainly can use it as bulletin-board material.
You should, however, expect Ohio State to view itself as a national title contender with every tool needed to win a league crown and compete for the College Football Playoff championship — and potentially win it for the first time in a decade. The Buckeyes have offensive fire power at every position. They have a hungry defense that should be greatly improved after taking a step forward last fall. This team has what’s needed to win it all, and it’ll certainly show off that confidence in Indianapolis this week at Big Ten Media Days. The Buckeyes will send a confident contingent into the media sessions on Wednesday.
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