Ohio State Football Notebook: ‘He’s everything you thought when you recruited him’

Three Isn’t Much of a Crowd

It appears for the time being that Ohio State is going to go with three quarterbacks this season.

That may change, but the Buckeyes are already at the scholarship limit and are looking to add a graduate transfer or two on the offensive line.

There is apparently still some kind of room apparently, however, based on the awarding of a scholarship to fifth-year senior walk-on lineman Kevin Woidke.

The Buckeyes may not have room for a fourth quarterback, and even if they do, they may not be able to find anybody suitable.

Even if they do just go with three this year, Day will be looking for four in 2020.

“That’s the ideal spot,” he said. “You have to adjust with what you have. I think the dynamics every year, I think when you look at the dynamics of every program, you can kind of look at everybody in America and say, ‘That’s a different dynamic, that’s an interesting situation.’ I got my quarterback for the next three years, then he plays 14 games, ends up third in the Heisman and leaves. You’re looking around, ‘What have we got?'”

So how do you combat it and move forward?

“You take it year by year,” he said. “Do the best you can to put the best product on the field, go from there.”

So Far, So Good

New Ohio State assistant coaches Greg Mattison and Al Washington recruited OSU freshman defensive end Zach Harrison for a very long time.

In the end, they fell short of landing him, but internally they are getting the last laugh.

Now getting to coach Harrison anyway, Mattison is very happy, especially after what he has seen over the last couple of weeks.

“Zach Harrison has, number one, great character,” he said. “That’s the first thing. Number two, he’s an unbelievable athlete. To be that big and that strong and everything like that.

“And then watching, like we had mat drills today and just watching him in the weight room, and that’s what we’ve tried to do. The new coaches that have come in have all tried to be around the players to try to get to know them, and he’s everything you thought when you recruited him. I mean, he’s a special athlete.”

From Good to Great

Projecting an offensive lineman from high school recruit to college player is a tricky business.

There have been plenty of 5-star can’t-miss linemen who end up missing. There are many more who end up being good, but not great.

There may be a fine line between good and evil, but there can be a canyon between good and great.

The Buckeyes signed four offensive linemen in the 2019 class and time will tell which side of the canyon each of those players reside.

But at least one of them believes he knows what separates the good linemen from the great.

“Their mind and their capability of knowing the plays, knowing the defense, and being able to tell what’s going on. Your mind is what changes you,” said freshman offensive lineman Ryan Jacoby.

“You have to have the mentality that you’re going to win every block and nobody’s better than you. But you’ve also got to be smart. You can’t be a dumb offensive lineman. You’ve got to know the play. You’ve got to know everything. You’ve got to know what to do at every position. And that’s what I need to get better at right now. I need to get in the playbook and learn more.”