Fall camp for freshmen football players often ends up in an everlasting search for mental and physical reassurance.
They listen to coaches, listen to teammates, and try to tell themselves that this is all completely normal.
Such was the case for sophomore defensive end Tyler Friday a year ago.
Friday came to Ohio State as one of the top defensive line prospects in the nation, but when he began taking part in his first fall camp as a Buckeye, he had more questions than answers.
Friday made it through that camp last year and ended up playing in 10 games as a true freshman.
Now taking part in his second fall camp at Ohio State, he has found his footing and is comfortable with his surroundings.
“It’s going well. It’s going well,” Friday said of this current edition of fall practice. “A lot better than last year. Last year was my first taste of it, so I didn’t know what to expect. But this time around, got some experience, so I was ready.”
The hardest part for him a year ago was dealing with all of the reps at the speed defensive line coach Larry Johnson demands.
Friday had to rely on the veterans to let him know that they weren’t being asked to do the impossible.
“Oh, yeah, definitely. Because some days I’m like, man, I know they didn’t do this much, but then they’ll tell me the same thing. They went through it too. So you know, just tough it out,” he said.
Friday relied the most on Jonathon Cooper, who was his team-appointed big brother back then.
The two of them would have heart-to-heart talks about what it takes to be a Buckeye, especially as a true freshman.
Last week when Cooper was told of the impact he had on Friday last year, he immediately smiled.
“He said that? What a guy, huh?” Cooper said. “I have to give myself a pat on the shoulder there. Good job, Coop.”
Then with a more serious follow up, Cooper explained what he has seen from Tyler Friday since last year.
“I’ve seen a lot of confidence growth,” he said. “He’s growing into a great player. He’s definitely improved his technique. And he has that confidence about him where he knows the plays, he knows the defense. So he can go and talk to younger players under him and tell them like what they need to do without having to come to me and asking me first.”
They say one of the things about freshmen is that they don’t even know what they don’t know yet. Friday came in thinking he knew more than he did, but he was also smart enough to have an open mind.
“When I came here, you kind of think you know it all,” he admitted. “But I came in with an open mind and Coach J really helped me improve in areas that I didn’t see I was struggling until he made sure I realized that I need to work in those areas. So I thank him for that. Shout out to Coach J.”
Friday credits that open mind — as well as learning the playbook — with allowing him to play in 10 games last season.
Even though he may have felt like he was struggling during his first camp, he was obviously doing something right to have earned the nickname “Baby Tyquan” — a nod to former Buckeye defensive end — and 2016 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year — Tyquan Lewis.
Friday obviously appreciated the comparison, citing Lewis’ body type, playing style, and how mean he could be on the field.
There are few better players a young defensive end could try to emulate.
With last year’s learning experience well behind him, Tyler Friday is now in the middle of entrenching himself in Ohio State’s defensive end rotation — as well as a spot in the Rushmen package on third downs.
Friday is already comfortable with the new defense and says he knows it inside and out, which is good because inside and out is also where he will be likely lining up this season, just as Tyquan Lewis did when he was part of the Rushmen.
This is also something that Friday is looking forward to this season.
“Absolutely,” he said. “And sliding inside is really an advantage for those guys that played outside for the most part. With the slower guys and inside with the guards and all that, so take advantage of that and make plays.”
And with a second fall camp now under his belt, Tyler Friday is more ready than ever to do just that.
