Julian Sayin set the tone on Day 2 of Ohio State’s spring football practice. Legend Bey showcased his versatility, and Kenyatta Jackson helped set the standard.

Day 2 of Spring practice is in the books for Ohio State, and the Buckeyes are bringing the juice early. Ryan Day addressed the team after stretches, and Julian Sayin followed up with a fiery soundbite that you had to be present for – the second-year starter is stepping up vocally as a leader for this team. “Be a dawg” was the main message. That’s an encouraging sign for the Buckeyes, as historically good recent Ohio State teams have a vocal QB (Will Howard and JT Barrett). 

Ryan Day’s intensity was on full display today, spending a lot of time coaching players 1-on-1 and assisting with drills. He spent noticeable time with Chris Henry Jr. and Legend Bey, two players who have high expectations in Columbus. 

On Tuesday, Ryan Day mentioned they see Legend Bey’s skillset as one who can play running back and wide receiver. On Thursday, Bey worked with both units, though most of his time was spent in the running back room. Day compared Bey to Curtis Samuel and Xavier Johnson, which is not an unfamiliar role for Ohio State offenses. 

Ryan Day coaching hands-on with the wide receivers and running backs. pic.twitter.com/nGfq7ivaOR

— Blake T. Biscardi (@BlakeBiscardi) March 12, 2026

There was a strong emphasis on ball security in the early stages of practice for the skill-position players. Day spent quality time making sure the guys were getting the little details right. Carlos Locklyn was coaching his RB room hard during the drill, especially Legend Bey and Favour Akih. These reps are massive opportunities for the youngsters this Spring as Bo Jackson and Isaiah West remain out. 

The wide receivers continue to look like the most skilled room on the team with a lot of upside. Jeremiah Smith looks physically stronger and faster than a year ago, which is a scary reality for the rest of the country. Julian Sayin met with the media today and discussed his connection with Jeremiah Smith. The bearded Ohio State quarterback said, “We’ve been working to get even better on the field and know what each other is thinking.”

On Tuesday, Sayin looked like he had put on some size, and that was confirmed today. He said he’s added between 5-10 pounds this winter and has been “doing a lot of stuff with Coach Mick to get stronger and more powerful.” The weight and development are tools that will benefit him in the ground game when he has to extend drives or take off on a rare designed run. 

Not much else was learned on the offensive line aside from Gabe Van Sickle stepping up to first team reps at one point. Julian Sayin mentioned the room has been awesome, and that he has a great relationship with those guys. 

Some work on hand refits from the Ohio state offensive line. pic.twitter.com/iQIFsdT8J2

— Dillon Davis (@DillonDavis56) March 12, 2026

During a portion of the 7-on-7, Jermaine Mathews led the defense on the back end with Jaylen McClain, who Matt Guerrieri expects to take a big step forward this year. They were joined by Earl Little Jr., Leroy Roker, and Devin Sanchez in the secondary. In the middle stood TJ Alford and Cincere Johnson. Payton Pierce, Riley Pettijohn, and Wisconsin-transfer Christian Alliegro will likely be the top three depth chart linebackers. These reps were taken on a rotational basis and are not official reports of named starters on the defensive side. 

James Laurinaitis and Sonny Styles have long expressed their belief that Pierce is next up in the linebacker room. The junior saw quality rotational snaps last year as he was brought along by Styles and Arvell Reese. Alliegro is one of many defensive transfers for Ohio State. Earl Little Jr., Qua Russaw, Terry Moore, and Cam Calhoun headline the incoming class, giving Matt Patricia and the Buckeyes more experience. 

Zion Grady has all the physical traits and is on breakout watch for the Buckeyes. Kenyatta Jackson had high praise for the sophomore defensive end, saying, “he’s got all the assets and tools. He needs to put it on the field.” Jackson also mentioned that Grady has taken his weight room workouts with Coach Mick very seriously, a common thread among this group of players.  

“The people who have been here, we have an edge. We’re trying to get those 51 new guys to buy in,” Jackson said. There’s a purpose to everything Ryan Day and Ohio State’s leadership and captains do, and it’s clear that emphasizing intensity and setting the standard for Ohio State football are primary focal points in the early Spring with so many new faces.