Buckeyes leaders ready to dominate, more insights ahead of season opener Ohio State Football
COLUMBUS – In just two days, Ohio State opens the season with a non-league preseason game against Akron.
Game day plans are being finalized quickly. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day announced this week that the offensive coordinator Chip Kellythe former head coach of Oregon, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and UCLA, will coach from the press box this season.
Day explained his reasons.
“His plan is to be in the box,” Day said of Kelly. “I think it’s important for him to get organized up there. He’s got the tablet up there. He’s got his call sheet up there. He can be really clean after every series. I think that’s one of the things he and I talked about: When you’re on the sideline and you’re a head coach, you have your call sheet, but it’s hard to prepare the next series when you’re doing all these other things.”
Joining Kelly in the box will be offensive analyst and quarterback assistant Billy Fessler, offensive line assistant Tim Drevno and offensive analyst Tony Johnson. Running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, wide receivers coach Brian Hartline, offensive line coach Justin Frye and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey will be on the sidelines.
ICYMI: Buckeyes CB Aaron Scott takes off black stripe
Cornerback in his first year at Ohio State Aaron Scott Jr. learning to play for the Buckeyes behind some of the best defensive backs in the country. Now he can officially say he’s part of that packed defensive room.
Scott lost his black stripe after practice on Tuesday, just days before the Buckeyes open their season against Akron.
Scott has been pushing and making progress all offseason after starting the spring with some initial struggles. The veteran defensive backs have been impressed with what he has brought to the field.
But the Buckeyes also make sure Scott is ready before putting him in a game.
“He’s in that mix of things,” Buckeyes cornerbacks coach Tim Walton said a few weeks ago. “It’s something that needs to crystallize a little more over time. You need to make sure it’s a true evaluation of how it’s going in all situations and all days overall.”
“…We have a lot of potential. We have some guys who have experience. We have some good young guys who have talent. They need to get experience. Usually you do that on game days.”
49 former Ohio State players are on the NFL roster
Tuesday was NFL cut day and the league forced its teams to reach the 53-man roster limit. Former Ohio State players were also much more likely to be on the right side of the cut line.
A total of 49 Buckeyes made the 53-man rosters, while two others will begin the season on various exempt lists. That’s 49 former Ohio State players on NFL rosters, not to mention the former Buckeyes who transferred to other college programs before becoming professional football players.
Lettermen Row has followed every roster decision and has the full list of former Buckeyes players who will begin the season on active NFL rosters.
READ MORE: Tracking former Ohio State players who made NFL rosters for 2024 season
The countdown
Buckeyes vs. Akron: 2 days
Ohio State at Oregon: 44 days
Ohio State at Penn State: 65 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 93 days
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