This past summer while Urban Meyer was on paid administrative leave and then suspension, Ryan Day had plenty on his plate.
He had to run the entirety of fall camp and then lead the game planning for the season opener against Oregon State. Meyer was back at practice the next day, but Day was still in charge for the following two game days.
That’s a lot to ask of a coach who also had to get a new starting quarterback and backup quarterback ready for the season.
Day didn’t get quarterbacks Dwayne Haskins and Tate Martell ready on his own, however. He relied on senior quality control coach Corey Dennis to help him out.
“Yeah, basically he is like my personal quarterback coach when Coach Day is not around,” Haskins said back in September.
“Just having him around, I can ask him about looks, coverages, pressures. He has everything that Coach Day teaches him, and he helps me with it throughout practices. He helps me out a lot.”
Both Haskins and Martell set Ohio State records this season. Martell set a record for completion percentage in a game, completing all 10 passes he attempted against Rutgers.
Haskins, meanwhile, set every other record. His 4,580 yards passing this season is already 1,250 more than Joe Germaine’s old school record of 3,330 in 1998. It’s 87 more yards than Craig Krenzel had in his entire career.
By the time this season is over, Haskins will have likely doubled the career passing yardage of Rex Kern and Cornelius Greene with just his 2018 numbers. His 47 touchdown passes this season are just 10 fewer than 3-year starter Bobby Hoying, who used to hold the career mark before JT Barrett obliterated it.
While Haskins will get the majority of the credit, and Ryan Day will likely get the rest, both would also credit the contribution from Corey Dennis.
“Definitely a young, inspiring coach,” Haskins said last week. “He gives you a lot of information. He’s very resourceful. As far as if I need to watch a clip or see something from practice, or send me notes from practice, he’s always a phone call away.”
With Day taking over for Urban Meyer, somebody is going to have to take over for Day with the quarterbacks. This season, Day’s right-hand man has been Dennis. Could that continue next season?
Dennis’ coaching career has only been at Ohio State, and it started back in 2015 as an intern. Then in 2016 and 2017, he was a graduate assistant working mostly with the receivers. Prior to this season, he was elevated to a senior quality control position with a focus on the quarterbacks.
He may not have the experience, but he does have the familiarity of the system, the head coach, and the players. And they have a familiarity with him.
“He did a great job this season of coming in and watching film with me every Monday,” Haskins said. “We would watch film after practice and he really did a great job with me, and I feel like he will be a good coach one day too.”