Three things we’re watching for at Student Appreciation Day

COLUMBUS — Just last week, Ohio State held its first scrimmage of the spring, open for media to watch and gather information.

This Saturday, the Buckeyes will once again open the doors to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center for Student Appreciation Day, offering Ohio State students to catch a glimpse of what this football team could look like in the fall.

No, students and media won’t learn whether Ohio State will win the national title this upcoming season. But there will be plenty to watch and learn as the Buckeyes take the field for practice No. 8 on Saturday. Lettermen Row is breaking down three thing we’re watching for this weekend at another pivotal Buckeyes spring practice. Let’s dive in.

Which quarterback will impress?

Ohio State isn’t going to make any sweeping judgments about its starting quarterback battle based on one scrimmage in March. Luckily for both Kyle McCord and Devin Brown, the Buckeyes have time to figure out the signal-caller battle that is ongoing, because neither one began the open practice last week with their best stuff. But as the day went on, the third-year quarterback McCord found his footing, settled in and began to show why he is believed to be leading the battle.

Can he follow it up a week later with another impressive performance in a packed Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Saturday? He has a chance to. But so does the talented second-year hopeful Brown, who is pushing McCord and is still in the thick of the quarterback battle. Saturday won’t be the day either of them can win the job, but a solid performance could go a long way as spring crosses the halfway point this week. McCord can put distance between he and Brown. And Brown can really put the pressure on McCord with a good day.

Do more young Buckeyes lose black stripes?

Following an impressive scrimmage last week, Ohio State early-enrollee wide receiver Carnell Tate ceremoniously lost his black stripe, signaling that he has looked the part of a top-tier wide receiver recruit already. So far this spring, Tate is the only freshman to shed the black stripe. Can others join him?

Candidates for the next freshman to lose the stripe include safety Malik Hartford, who is gaining buzz in the secondary already, offensive lineman Luke Montgomery, who did a good job at third-team offensive tackle last week, tight end Jelani Thurman and wide receiver Noah Rogers. That’s not to say others can’t rise up this week and shed theirs first. But Lettermen Row has its eyes on some freshmen who have impressed early in spring ball and could be in line for a black stripe removal on Saturday.

Does Ohio State defensive line continue dominant spring?

The top two defensive ends at Ohio State, J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, should be getting in the Buckeyes backfield this spring, given that both offensive tackle spots are in transition. But the defensive ends behind those two starters were also applying plenty of pressure last weekend when the Buckeyes opened their entire scrimmage to the media. Kenyatta Jackson was the breakout star of that scrimmage, and he has a big opportunity to continue an impressive spring with another great open viewing period on Saturday in front of Buckeyes students. As do Caden Curry and Omari Abor, among other young up-and-coming defensive ends. If that unit dominates the offensive tackles for the second weekend in a row, it shows that the defensive line is ready to take a step forward — and that the offensive line still needs major work in the final two weeks of spring ball.

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