Devin Brown vs. Kyle McCord? What Ohio State's Ryan Day Is Looking For In QB1
How does one win the starting quarterback job at Ohio State in 2023? According to Buckeyes coach Ryan Day, there are two keys to taking the edge.
Day has made it clear that throughout the spring, both Kyle McCord and Devin Brown would see the same amount of reps to prove their worth as the heir apparent to C.J. Stroud. McCord might have the advantage in terms of in-game reps, but Brown's upside provides value in terms of mobility.
Neither trait will be enough for Day to pull the plug on his plan and name one of the two Ohio State's next starter by the end of spring. Instead, the fifth-year coach is looking for stability and precision.
Everything else is simply a bonus.
"I've been talking to our guys about making the routine plays routinely," Day said Tuesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. "With our players and the skill we have, we don't need extraordinary stuff. We need people to take care of the football. If the first read is there, take it. If not, work on the two-three and have a plan from there. Make good decisions in the run game, take care of the football and lead the offense."
One area Day is looking to see more improvement in both passers is competitiveness. Every year during a quarterback battle, the level of competition was raised. The reasoning? Better play in practice meant stability at the game's most influential position during the regular season.
Day highlighted the former battles between passers of old, including Braxton Miller, Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett, Dwayne Haskins, Joe Burrow, Justin Fields and Stroud. Miller battled it out with Jones, who later went toe-to-toe with Barrett. Haskins and Burrow went down to the wire before then-coach Urban Meyer named the former the starter.
Meanwhile, Stroud waited behind Fields in 2020 but upped the level of play in practice to keep the now Chicago Bears' starting quarterback on his toes.
"The other thing is that you're looking for some sort of extraordinary trait," Day said. "When you think about the different quarterbacks we've had … they all had extraordinary traits. I think that's important. You try to emphasize those traits."
What trait stands out for McCord? Is it his pristine passing across the middle of the field? Could it be his relationship with Marvin Harrison Jr., a player who hauled in touchdowns during their time together in high school?
And the same goes for Brown. Could the mobility and elusiveness behind a young offensive line be the key? Or perhaps his maturation under new offensive coordinator Brian Hartline will set him apart from the other passers in the building.
Day declined to comment on either player's strengths but did mention that several qualities were beginning to unravel toward his liking in practice.
"The one thing I can appreciate about both of them is their work ethic and intelligence level. It's been fun to get out there and see them take reps with the ones," said Day. "When you're taking reps with the twos and the threes, it's a little different, especially in season. But now they're thrust up there, being pushed up there."
Brown and McCord will have their first real test as starters come Saturday during the Buckeyes' first intrasquad scrimmage. After that, Day will have a better indication of where the position is, though nothing will likely change regarding the race for the starting job.
"We haven't even put third-down (plays) in or any of that stuff," Day said. "So far, I like their mentality, and I think the team believes in them, and I think that's important as well."
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