COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State held its pro day on Wednesday, offering more than 140 NFL staffers — ranging from general managers to area scouts — the chance to get their eyes on some members of the national title team.
After the litany of Buckeyes were done working out for NFL teams, coach Ryan Day spoke briefly with the media to talk about the day, and what the 2024 team means to him.
Here’s what he said:
On the day as a whole: “I thought it was great. I mean, I don’t think Will missed a pass. Maybe one, but I mean, that was as good as I’ve seen him throw, he had pace on the ball, so that was great...I thought Emeka (Egbuka) looked great. Running the receivers did a great job. I thought the D line drills were explosive. I mean across the board I thought our guys looked great.”
On the 2024 team returning to the practice facility: “The first time when they first walk in, they see these banners and all the work that we put in this season and during the stretch run we were inside here more. Just kept talking to ‘em about, ‘These are the national championships right here. We need a banner right there.’ The fact that it’s actually there now, and just then see the faces right here, it’s great for them. That’s the first thing they notice.”
On members of the current team being able to workout in front of scouts before their own pro days in a few years: “I think it’s good. I think it’s good experience. It’s good for them to realize what’s out in front of them, and it was good for all of our guys to support this class. Sometimes these events can get a little stale, so we try to turn up the music a little bit, try to create atmosphere and have our guys cheer them on.”
On the 2024 team’s journey: “I think in today’s day and age, it’s easy to focus on the results. And when you win one, you get to really focus on the process, and it gives us a lot of testimony on how we do things here, the type of people that we have. And hopefully that this is the standard as we move forward for future guys to see: Here are the guys that won the national championship. They did things the right way. A lot of them came back, they were unselfish, they sacrificed, and there’s so much more to ‘em than just football players. As you guys know, the impact they’ve made on our community. So again, for the rest of our team, to see them now going on to the next level and the success they’re going to have at the next level just speaks more to the culture and what we’re trying to continue to build.”
On former quarterback Will Howard’s performance: “I thought it was excellent. Again, I’m not sure he missed a pass. I thought he was on fire. I thought the ball had pace. He did a nice job down the field, had a good rhythm. You could see him under center, had fun with it and receivers did a good job. I mean, that was an impressive workout. And I think bunch of the NFL guys just saw his size, saw the way the ball was coming out of his hand. And was very impressed.”
On what having the NFL record for draft picks (set at 15) would mean: “Just testimony on doing things the right way and the development of our program and being at Ohio State. I mentioned this to all the personnel. We addressed them when we first started. Ohio State has a fan base of just under 12 million. I believe the Dallas Cowboys is around eight and a half million. So guys understand what it means to play on a big stage. They understand what it means to play when all the stakes are down. They know how to handle themselves in a big environment in a sports market like Columbus. So you’re getting a professional day one. And that’s great testimony for our guys.”
“This is what football is all about and I think, again, sometimes we get so focused on the results and not the process. And these guys are great football players, but they’re winners in all other areas of life. But the fact that they have a banner now to celebrate all those, we have trials and tribulations along the way, that’s life. And they kept swinging and kept working. And I think for the rest of their lives they’ll be able to walk in this building with their children, with their wife and show what they did and tell their story.”
On how members of the 2024 team should be remembered: “I think that they couldn’t be prouder when they walk in this building. So many people across Buckeye Nation just say, ‘Thank you,’ thank you for what they’ve done, the joy that they brought. And so they just went on the most historic runs in the history of college football and they’re extremely proud of that.”