OSU Alum Raises Serious Concerns for Ryan Day That Even Arthur Smith Hire Might Not Fix

Ohio State University's football team, the Buckeyes, have always been known for their strength and dominance on the field. With a storied history and a passionate fan base, the Buckeyes have consistently been one of the top teams in college football. However, as the team prepares for the upcoming season, there is one key position that has become a major cause for concern. Under the leadership of head coach Ryan Day, the Buckeyes have had a successful run in the transfer portal, bringing in 18 new players to bolster their roster. However, amidst all the excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season, one crucial position has been left dangerously thin. This has raised serious concerns for OSU alum and fans alike, as the team has championship-or-bust expectations. The position in question is none other than the quarterback spot. Despite having star quarterback Justin Fields leading the team for the past two seasons, the Buckeyes have seen multiple departures at this key position. Fields, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist and led the team to the College Football Playoffs in back-to-back years, has now moved on to the NFL. His backup, Gunnar Hoak, also decided to transfer, leaving the Buckeyes with a glaring hole at the quarterback position. This has caused alarm bells to ring for former Ohio State quarterback and alum, Kirk Herbstreit. In a recent interview, Herbstreit expressed his concern over the lack of depth at the quarterback position for the Buckeyes. He stated, "I'm concerned about the depth at quarterback. After Justin Fields, there's a big drop-off. They have a couple of young guys, but they don't have any experience." Herbstreit's concerns are valid, as the backup quarterback position is crucial in college football. Injuries and unforeseen circumstances can happen at any time, and having a reliable and experienced backup quarterback is essential for a team's success. This was evident when Fields suffered an injury during the 2019 season, and the Buckeyes had to rely on their backup quarterback to lead the team. While Fields was able to return and lead the team to the playoffs, it highlighted the importance of having a strong backup quarterback. The Buckeyes' current backup options include redshirt freshman Jack Miller and true freshman C.J. Stroud. Both players have potential, but neither has any game experience at the college level. This puts a lot of pressure on Day to find a solution to this problem, and the recent hiring of Arthur Smith as the new offensive coordinator may not be enough to fix it. Smith, who has worked with successful quarterbacks like Matt Ryan and Ryan Tannehill in the NFL, is a great addition to the Buckeyes coaching staff. However, he may not have enough time to work his magic on the young quarterbacks before the season starts. This puts the Buckeyes in a risky situation, especially with tough opponents like Oregon and Penn State on their schedule. However, despite the concerns and the glaring weakness at the quarterback position, there is still hope for the Buckeyes. Day has proven to be a talented coach, and with a strong supporting cast, he has the ability to turn things around. The Buckeyes also have a talented group of receivers and running backs, which can take some of the pressure off the quarterbacks. Moreover, Ohio State has a top-rated recruiting class coming in, which includes two highly rated quarterbacks. While it may take some time for these young players to adjust to the college level, they could be the future answer at the quarterback position for the Buckeyes. The upcoming season is crucial for the Buckeyes, and the team will have to find a way to overcome this weakness to stay in the race for the national championship. As a proud Ohio State alum, Herbstreit hopes that Day and his coaching staff can find a solution to this problem and keep the Buckeyes on the path to success. In conclusion, the departure of Justin Fields and the lack of depth at the quarterback position has raised serious concerns for the Buckeyes. However, with the talented coaching staff and players at Ohio State, there is still hope for a successful season. As the team prepares for the upcoming season, all eyes will be on Ryan Day to see how he addresses this issue and leads the Buckeyes towards another shot at the national championship.