Five Buckeyes generating buzz after Ohio State speaks at Big Ten Media Days

INDIANAPOLIS — Ohio State coach Ryan Day laid out exactly what he wants from his team on Sept. 2 when the Buckeyes hit the road to open the season at Indiana.

“I expect to be playing at a high level, picking up where we left off last year,” Day said. “I expect the defense to be a year experienced and more salty. I’m excited to see some of the new faces out there playing. Expect to see one of the more explosive offensive in the country and a quarterback that is going to put the ball in the right spot on time not to do anything extraordinary early on, but find a way to compete and win games.

“And a team that’s going to play tough and compete at a high level, play with an edge, play fast. That’s what we’re looking for in that first game.”

That’s all good and fine, but the Buckeyes have plenty to sort through in the next 37 days before toe meets leather in Bloomington. Yes, this roster is loaded with talent. But the Buckeyes need both veterans and youngsters to step up and replace departed stars.

Lettermen Row heard what the Buckeyes had to say at Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday in Indianapolis and came away with five Ohio State players generating buzz heading into training camp next week. Let’s dive in.

Safety Lathan Ransom

The praise came from a unique spot, but it spoke to just how good Lathan Ransom has been this offseason for Ohio State. Senior tight end Cade Stover made sure to point out that Ransom is due for a massive year in the Buckeyes secondary, especially entering Year Two of the Jim Knowles defensive system. Ransom was a bright spot for the Buckeyes a year ago, finishing the year as a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award despite the defensive struggles late in the season. Now with another offseason of work — and in the defensive scheme — Ransom is growing into a leader for the Buckeyes. And he’s drawing plenty of praise as a potential superstar in the coming months.

The quarterbacks

Of course Ryan Day wasn’t going to come over to Indianapolis before the Buckeyes even open training camp and name a starting quarterback. But he provided plenty of insight on the ongoing fight between junior Kyle McCord and second-year signal-caller Devin Brown. Both quarterbacks, according to Day and superstar wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., have impressed throughout summer workouts as potential starting options. Day did go as far as saying McCord’s only edge in the competition comes by way of his one-year head start on Brown as a third-year player rather than a second-year quarterback in Day’s system. Expect a starter by the third or fourth week of August. For now, both quarterbacks are being talked about as stars for the Buckeyes.

Defensive end Kenyatta Jackson

One of the big storylines exiting spring practice was the emergence of second-year defensive end Kenyatta Jackson as a potential difference-maker. Jackson began to show that he should be considered for playing time early in spring after a developmental freshman season, and he continued to stack good days during March and April. Now he’s being mentioned by Ryan Day as one of the three defensive ends who will need to ‘carry the water’ for the Buckeyes defensive line this upcoming season. Day also added that Jackson ‘looks like an NFL player right now.’ Jackson has beefed up to 255 pounds ahead of August camp, and he’s positioned himself to make an impact for Ohio State from the opening game at Indiana in early September.

Safety Sonny Styles

Another safety that senior tight end Cade Stover was asked about was Sonny Styles, the versatile second-year defensive back who defends Stover in practice. And Stover raved about what Styles is bringing to the practice field for the first-team defense. Styles reclassified and was a freshman last season when he should have been a senior in high school. Now in Year Two at Ohio State, however, he looks and plays like a veteran. How the safety positions shake out for the Buckeyes is still up in the air. But Sonny Styles will be a big part of it, and that was even further confirmed Wednesday in Indianapolis.

Freshmen offensive linemen

Ohio State is going through plenty of transition along the offensive line, losing three starters to the NFL Draft. And the Buckeyes have talented veterans who could make the move into the starting lineup after multiple years of development in the program. But two true freshmen offensive linemen are beginning to gain some momentum as potential difference-makers right away for this line. Coach Ryan Day and tight end Cade Stover both raved about Luke Montgomery‘s potential for the Buckeyes. Day even mentioned that Montgomery is ‘in the mix’ for the two open offensive tackle jobs. Fellow freshman Austin Siereveld, meanwhile, is quickly showing that he belongs in the conversation for playing time on the interior of the line. Those two represent a large part of the future of this offensive line equation. They could even play their way into the present of it beginning next week.

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