Kyle McCord Named Full-Time Starting QB
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day said after Saturday's win against Youngstown State that it was "worth considering" naming a starting quarterback this week to give more preparation time for Notre Dame.
Well, Day has done just that, giving quarterback Kyle McCord the full-time nod to be the Buckeyes' starting quarterback against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers after he separated himself from Devin Brown through the first two games of the season, he announced Tuesday.
Ohio State couldn't decide on a starting quarterback out of camp, as the race was neck-and-neck. Day even resorted to taking a straw poll of the staff on who they thought should be the starting quarterback, but it was split down the middle.
The Buckeyes trotted out both McCord and Brown for the Indiana and Youngstown State games. It became clear after Week 2 against the Penguins that McCord took hold of the job, completing 14-of-20 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns.
Day's criteria for becoming the starter included "making the routine plays routinely" and leading the team down the field — both things McCord did in his time on the field.
In the first quarter alone, McCord linked up with wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. on 71- and 39-yard touchdown passes.
On the first, Harrison leaked out down the sideline, McCord hit him in stride and the All-American receiver did the rest, winning the foot race to the end zone while topping out at 22.2 mph. On the second, McCord lofted a bomb down the field to a back-pedaling Harrison past the Penguins' defensive backs.
By naming the full-time QB1 before Western Kentucky, McCord can take 100 percent of the reps with the first team and not be in limbo about whether or not he's staying in the game or coming out.
That rapport, chemistry and comfortability will be pertinent not only this weekend against the Hilltoppers but, more importantly, against the Fighting Irish Sept. 23.
