'Slam Dunk!' Ryan Day Reveals Thoughts On New Ohio State Buckeyes RB Coach Carlos Locklyn

Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day reveals part of the reason why Carlos Locklyn is the new running backs coach in Columbus.

New Ohio State Buckeyes running backs coach Carlos Locklyn might be one of the more important additions to the staff in Columbus for 2024.

After losing former running backs coach Tony Alford to TTUN, there was a huge hole in the staff, and coach Ryan Day couldn't be happier to have Locklyn in Columbus.

Oregon running backs coach Carlos Locklyn calls to players Thursday, April 14, 2022, during practice

Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA

"First off, when you hear about Carlos' story, it's captivating," Day said at media availability on Wednesday. "Where he's come from ... and then you start to listen to his overall knowledge about the position, his aggressiveness in recruiting, the impact he's had on people, the relationships he's had with people, it was an absolute slam dunk for us.

"He's already, in a short period of time, brought in an edge and a toughness and an aggressiveness that I think is going to be excellent."

The "story" that Day refers to is Locklyn's unusual path to becoming a football coach. He wasn't groomed by a coaching father or raised in a football family. Instead, he had to figure it out on his own.

“Like some of us in this profession, he came up not in a football family but grew up and kind of had to figure it out on their own," Day said earlier this month. "He’s one of those people. When you listen to how he came up in this thing, he’s very appreciative of all the opportunities he’s gotten. But he’s earned them all, and he deserved them all."

Now, after a successful stint at Oregon, Locklyn moves to another national title contender under the tutelage of coach Day.