As we tap into spring football, the recruitment hype hits an all-time high, triggering a lot of back and forth in the players’ movement. Looking at the champion team, the reality is no different. Ryan Day owns the trophy, but he couldn’t make the program immune to the massive transfer portal effect right after the gala night at Mercedes Benz stadium. Some of his trusted lieutenants also moved to the next stage—the NFL draft. For instance, Will Howard, Jack Sawyer, and Emeka Egbuka, among others. Then, he lost his offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator, Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles, in an uneven battle with the NFL and fellow B1G giant, Penn State. However, a coach’s job is not limited to planning for the next season. It’s a case of having one eye on the near sight and using the other for the long-term future of the program. The same is true for Ryan Day.

It’s not just about the 2025 class; the 2026 and 2027 classes matter as much. About 2027—Ryan Day may be at the risk of losing four-star wide receiver gem from Wayne High School—Jamier Brown. Rivals national recruiting analyst Greg Smith deems him in the potential flips list in the BIG10. Brown has been verbally committed to the Buckeyes since last November. But in the current era of football, commitment is a joke unless and until it’s etched in paper. Rival programs leave no stone unturned in trying to sway them from their commitments. In Brown’s case, he has not closed his window as well, actively seeking out other options. Schools like Oregon and Tennessee are trying to capitalize on their chances.

Dan Lanning has been the most rigorous opponent on the recruiting trail, and they just offered Brown. The five-star receiver has already set an official visit to Eugene, giving more edge to the rival school to strike a crucial win against the Buckeyes. He locked visits to Miami and Tennessee as well. Texas A&M, Auburn, Florida State, and Florida are on the list, too.

And according to On3, Brown will make his way to Knoxville for an unofficial visit in June. It won’t be a cakewalk for either Lanning or Heupel to swoop talent in from the defending champions’ squad, but nothing is impossible if they trick the mind of the kid into believing in some better prospects at their hands to offer. “Tennessee sends me a lot of stuff, and they have been working to get me there, so I will check it out,” said Brown to On3 of his interest in the Vols. “From what I know, it looks nice, so I want to get there and see what it is like.”

On the other side, Lincoln Riley seems to be on his toes in regard to the four-star defensive end Braeden Jones, who gave a commitment to the Trojans last October. It was quite an unexpected win for Riley, but ever since they underwent some serious changes in the recruiting structure, being able to retain the interests of a blueblood target like Jones is going to be a big challenge, especially with some menacing rivals like Notre Dame, Miami, and in-state Illini in the mix.

However, despite the looming recruiting threats, Ryan Day is a visionary in strategic hiring, and no one felt it better than the former QB1, Will Howard.

Will Howard points out a big advantage in the Buckeyes’ offense

The Buckeyes showcased some of the elite-level quarterback play last year, with Will Howard under the center. Leading his team to the helm of the business in the 2024 regular season, Howard left for the next big stop of his career, the NFL draft. But the QB phenom didn’t shy away from crediting his alma mater for making him into the guy he is today. Howard is especially grateful to Buckeyes QB coach Billy Fessler and coach Ryan Day for bringing him into the program.

Billy Fessler was the analyst at Ohio State in 2024 but had worked with the quarterbacks unofficially. Heading into a new season, Day promoted him to the full-fledged quarterback coach at Columbus, and no one is happier than Will Howard by the decision.

“I’m so happy for him,” Howard said at the NFL Scouting Combine at the end of February. “If Coach Day didn’t hire him to be the quarterback coach, I would have had a problem with it. He taught me so much this year, and he was integral to my development. He is absolutely 100 percent the best man for the job. He’s going to be great for that room.” 

When Ohio State will miss the presence of Chip Kelly on the offense, they have Fessler, who can bring some new hope to the new guys, striving for a second title for the second year in a row. So, if you’re an Ohio State offensive weapon, think again before making a jump! The Buckeyes are delivering!