Buckeye Cadence: How is Ohio State’s roster shaping up according to Ryan Day? What was learned during the open practice? Breaking down Jake Diebler’s transfer portal strategy.
Blake Biscardi and Grant Kincaid sat down to process the latest from Ryan Day’s press conference, then turned their attention to an Ohio State basketball program that will look very different next season.
Football:
Ryan Day was direct about the cornerback situation, stating that no one has locked down a starting spot and that the competition is intense. With Ohio State losing significant production from the secondary last year, competition on the back end is one of the most important storylines of the entire spring. Biscardi and Kincaid give insights into the position battles and transfers.
The news out of the trenches wasn’t ideal as Austin Siereveld and Philip Daniels are both done for the rest of spring, forcing Day and offensive line coach Tyler Bowen to work through their depth in real time. The philosophy is to play the best five, and Ian Moore and Carter Lowe have stepped up due to injuries.
Ryan Day praised the second-level burst of running backs Isaiah West and Bo Jackson. But he was clear that in Year 2, he needs to see more: the ability to make defenders miss in the second level or run through contact.
Day’s comments on defensive lineman James Smith were worth paying close attention to as he acknowledged the flashes, called out the obvious talent, and noted how much Smith loves to play. However, he was equally clear about how Larry Johnson is challenging him: sustaining a high level of play over a long stretch, not just in bursts.
Linebacker TJ Alford is making noise, as Day put it, “knocking on the door in a big way.” Meanwhile, the Ohio State head coach offered notable praise for the tight end room’s involvement in the passing game.
Basketball:
The offseason has arrived fast for Jake Diebler’s program. White, Cupps, Royal, and Chatman have all entered the transfer portal, leaving Ohio State with roster questions heading into the offseason. Biscardi and Kincaid walk through what a realistic rebuild looks like and identify four names the Buckeyes should be tracking:
Notre Dame guard Jalen Haralson, five-star Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, Cornell guard Jake Fiegen, and Alabama forward Aiden Sherrell. The Buckeyes are expected to be aggressive and spend Ohio State-level money in the transfer portal.
Listen to Episode 5 of Buckeye Cadence on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Stay locked in with The Silver Bulletin (@tSilverBulletin) and follow @SaturdayCadence, @BlakeBiscardi, and @GrantKincaid on social media for coverage, clips, and weekly picks throughout the season.
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NEXT: Read and watch this week’s Buckeye State of the Union: Open Practice Takeaways; Ryan Day’s Ohio State Spring Football Updates
Grant Kincaid was born in Columbus, Ohio, and raised in Dayton. He serves as Creative Director and basketball contributor at The Silver Bulletin. At one point, Grant, a collegiate baseball player, also holds a B.A. in Management and Leadership Studies. Aside from the Buckeyes, he is an avid supporter of both the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals. His favorite Buckeyes include Braxton Miller, AJ Hawk, and Ted Ginn Jr.