At the start of spring practice, Ryan Day wasn’t sure he even wanted a spring game.
Saturday’s spring finale at Ohio Stadium was originally billed as a Spring Showcase, though what that would consist of was never defined. As the practices unfolded, Day realized that a normal spring game scrimmage was necessary.
Most of the players who carried Ohio State to its national championship were gone. Their successors needed all the work they could get.
“I’m glad we did the spring game,” Day said. “I wasn’t sure, but it was definitely the right thing to do. I wish we could have stayed out there for another four hours and gotten these reps and gotten these guys some work.”
Day’s answer was in response to a question about OSU’s quarterbacks. Justin Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz are battling to succeed Will Howard.
Sayin has been considered the front-runner based on being the top-ranked quarterback nationally in the 2024 recruiting class. When Sayin transferred from Alabama last year following Nick Saban’s retirement, he was regarded as the likely heir apparent, especially after Devin Brown transferred to Cal.
But Kienholz had a strong spring and looked better than Sayin in a couple of recent practices open to reporters. On Saturday, Sayin was clearly better. His arm is strong and accurate. He is blessed with a quick release.
Yes, new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s playbook was kept closed. Day said the Buckeyes’ defense used only one front and two basic coverages. And the quarterbacks were off-limits from contact.
But Sayin threw a few NFL-type completions into tight coverage. They were the kind that…
Source link : https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/college/football/2025/04/13/ohio-state-football-spring-game-2025/83048918007/
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Publish date : 2025-04-13 17:01:00
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