Buckeye State of the Union: Take an inside look as Ohio State took the field for the first time this spring, followed by a recap of Ryan Day’s remarks.

Ohio State opened spring practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, officially beginning the 2026 season with 51 new faces on the roster following major NFL departures and transfer portal movement.

In this first Buckeye State of the Union of the 2026 season, Blake Biscardi breaks down the biggest takeaways from Day 1:

• The biggest question facing Ohio State: the offensive line

• Where players like Ian Moore, Austin Siereveld, and Josh Padilla fit

• Early impressions of 5-star WR Chris Henry Jr. and transfer Devin McCuin

• LSU transfer Kyle Parker stepping into Carnell Tate’s role

• Quarterback room behind Julian Sayin

• Opportunities for young running backs Anthony “Turbo” Rogers and Legend Bey

• Why Ryan Day says running back is his biggest concern right now

Plus: Ryan Day discusses the impact of new coordinators Arthur Smith and Matt Patricia, building a new team identity, and what he sees in quarterback Julian Sayin heading into his second season as a starter.

When asked about this year’s team, Ryan Day said, “The connection of the team will be important. I really like this team’s energy and competitiveness. It’s a mature group.”

Let’s dive into some of the offensive takeaways from Day 1 of Spring Practice for the Buckeyes.

Offensive Line

What does the offensive line look like? That is the biggest question surrounding Ohio State football this year, following below-average performances against Indiana and Miami, the top two pass rushes the Buckeyes faced in 2025. Carson Hinzman, Austin Siereveld, and Luke Montgomery will lead the unit as key returning starters. But where will Joshua Padilla, Ian Moore, Gabe Van Sickle, and Phillip Daniels line up? 

Ryan Day said Ian Moore will practice at both offensive tackle and guard, while Austin Siereveld will take most reps at tackle. He also mentioned consideration for Phillip Daniels to play guard, but for now, Daniels will remain an offensive tackle. Among the Buckeyes who will be limited this spring due to injuries, Joshua Padilla makes the list, which could complicate Ohio State’s combinations up front. Day said this is the “deepest we’ve ever been” on the offensive line, so plenty of options are on the table for a unit that needs to take a major step forward for the Buckeyes. 

Wide Receivers

Most notably, 5-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. looks impressive with his build and mobility as he works to see the field. LSU transfer Kyle Parker, wearing No. 5, comes in ready to step into Carnell Tate’s shoes. Alongside Brandon Inniss, these two wide receivers must be reliable targets for Julian Sayin behind Jeremiah Smith for Ohio State’s passing offense to be successful.

Hello, Jeremiah Smith. Welcome to Year 3, College Football 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/p0dCDDoomX

— Blake T. Biscardi (@BlakeBiscardi) March 10, 2026

Ryan Day highlighted transfers, Kyle Parker, and Devin McCuin, saying they “looked like total pros – you can already see it on day one.” Those remarks are an encouraging sign for a room that is historically the most talented in the country, deciding to bring in transfers for the first time. Freshman wide receiver De’Zie Jones also caught a touchdown pass from Julian Sayin during a red zone drill. 

Running Backs

The running back room is without young stars Bo Jackson and Isaiah West this spring, which gives opportunities to Anthony “Turbo” Rogers and incoming true freshman Legend Bey, who has the attention of many after his recruitment. Rogers led the room today in the absence of Jackson and West, and his burst was noticeable. Moreover, Bey’s athleticism is why heads turn when he has the ball. Running back coach Carlos Locklyn was notably coaching and correcting him with fire, which is a testament to his belief in the young player’s development. 

However, before the bright lights shine, the growing phase occurs. Ryan Day knows he has a talented room, but named the running backs as his “biggest concern” of the day, saying “it was a little rough” for Carlos Locklyn’s boys today. In the same breath, Day views Legend Bey similarly to Curtis Samuel, saying he’s explosive with the ball in his hands and has a tremendous skill set. Bey will be used at running back and wide receiver during his time at Ohio State, adding another wrinkle to the Buckeye offense.

Quarterbacks

Tavien St. Clair appears to be the backup quarterback to Julian Sayin at the moment, with transfer Justyn Martin taking third-team reps. Sayin looked smooth in his motion today and threw a beautiful corner route to Chris Henry Jr. during a route-running drill. 

When asked about Sayin, Arthur Smith noted his intelligence and high football IQ. Smith and Day both agree that Sayin can process high levels of information, which in turn slows the game down. Smith is excited to coach Sayin and the offense and add Sayin’s legs to the mix. Day said Julian Sayin running the ball will be a critical X-Factor for the offense this year.

Ryan Day said Julian Sayin’s legs need to be an X-Factor this year.

Here’s a look at Sayin’s mobility during a ball security drill. pic.twitter.com/949hJOLVqj

— Blake T. Biscardi (@BlakeBiscardi) March 10, 2026

Finally, the strength and development of some of the players who have been in the program for a while. Ryan Day praised Mickey Marotti for his elite strength and conditioning program, which he called “the best in the country.” None more evidenced than with Jeremiah Smith, who looks the part of his NFL-comparison combination of Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson. Smith is listed at 6’3 223 pounds.