Kyle McCord showcasing necessary traits to lead as Buckeyes QB1

COLUMBUS — Ohio State releases a video trailer for every game. It comes out on Thursday nights. The video team does a good job of firing up fans with a few minutes of speeches, highlights and hype.

So when the trailer for the Western Kentucky matchup came out, it would be easy to watch, grow excited for Saturday at 4 p.m. and have a good college football Saturday.

But this trailer was different, especially at the 20-second mark. In the same week that Ohio State coach Ryan Day announced Kyle McCord as the starting quarterback on a permanent basis, McCord’s voice emerged from the background music, giving an impassioned speech, either pregame or at halftime of the Buckeyes win last week.

“It’s us versus us,” McCord shouted. “It’s you versus you. Every play. How hard are you going to go for your brothers? Are you going to give it everything you’ve got every single snap? Every single snap. Ask yourself that question.”

Need an example of what kind of leader the Buckeyes are getting in their new full-time starting quarterback? Allow the trailer to provide an inside look. McCord isn’t the most vocal quarterback Ohio State has had. But this clearly shows that when he needs to be a voice as the leader of the locker room, he certainly has it in him.

And it’s only going to grow as he settles into the role of QB1 at Ohio State.

During the first two years of his time with the Buckeyes, he was learning leadership and quietly building trust in the background during C.J. Stroud’s tenure as the starter. Then this offseason, he was competing with Devin Brown to become the starter — and the leader — of the Buckeyes offense.

Now it’s Kyle McCord’s team. And the leadership is showing up on and off the field.

“I think the team and the players having faith and belief in him,” Day said. “Seeing his leadership and seeing what he does around the [Woody Hayes Athletic Center] with some of the players. I think he’s done a nice job before games and in the offseason of having a voice, and that’s been good. He’s put a lot of work in by himself in the film room. So those are all good signs as a quarterback.”

It’s not just the head coach who can see the leadership from his new starting quarterback. McCord has earned the trust from his biggest weapons in the Ohio State offense.

McCord’s teammates see what they need to see to know he can lead them to achieve those lofty goals: a win over Michigan, a Big Ten title and a national championship. They’ve got faith in the newly-minted starter.

“He cares more than just about anybody on the team,” star receiver Emeka Egbuka said. “He’s the last one to leave the facility every single day. He puts in the hours. And he does a lot of hours on film. He’s a student of the game. I mean, he’s really smart. That’s one of the most impressive things about him. Because, you know, he’s not necessarily a scrambler or anything like that. He’s throws a really pretty ball. He’s a master of his craft.

“And he’s going to continue to get better day in and day out.”

That applies both on the field and in the leadership department. The quarterback has to be both vocal and present. McCord is building a reputation for both.

And it’s one thing for the coaching staff and players to say it. It’s another thing to see it in action. Good thing the video crew at Ohio State was there to peel back the curtain and show everyone on the outside what kind of leader Kyle McCord can be as QB1 for the Buckeyes.

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