Eric Boggs
After two days of closed practices, Ohio State opened its doors to the media for the seventh practice of its preseason camp on Thursday. With the Big Ten Network in attendance as part of its annual training camp tour, the Buckeyes practiced for three full hours in the morning, increasing the intensity as they enter the second week of August. The session featured more contact than earlier practices, including drills focused on tackling and blocking, inside drills, and multiple red-zone team drills.
Offense
The Ohio State offense faced a challenging day, largely due to a thinned-out offensive line caused by an illness sweeping through the unit. Starters Josh Simmons and George Fitzpatrick were sidelined, and Zen Michalski exited practice early, leaving the Buckeyes scrambling to fill key positions. Austin Siereveld and Joshua Padilla stepped up, taking on first-team reps at left tackle and left guard, respectively. Despite the tough circumstances, head coach Ryan Day praised the linemen for their resilience.
“A couple guys on the offensive line had to double up, and I called them out after practice and gave them a shoutout because that wasn’t easy,” Day said. “It wasn’t all perfect, but they were tough and gritty and really gutted it out.”
As expected, Will Howard and Devin Brown have separated themselves from the rest of the room when it comes to the starting quarterback position. Howard took more first string snaps on Thursday than Brown but the coaches have repeatedly informed the media to not read into that while witnessing five out of the seven practices this fall. This Saturday the Buckeye will scrimmage in full pads for the time since camp begun. This will be an important day for both Howard and Brown.
“No decisions have been made. We’re going to probably scrimmage a little bit on Saturday. By then, we’ll take an evaluation and kind of see where we’re at. But both guys are getting reps with the ones. I will say that Will really has taken some strides here in the last couple of practices, taking control of the offense, making plays on third down. Again, hasn’t won the job, but we have seen some positive play there.”
Head Coach Ryan Day
The tight ends emerged as key contributors in Thursday’s practice, particularly in the red zone. Jelani Thurman caught two touchdown passes during team drills, demonstrating his potential as a dangerous target near the goal line. However, Day emphasized that Thurman still needs to work on consistency and execution if he wants to secure a major role in the offense. Will Kacmarek also had a strong day, moving the chains with several catches, including a deep corner route from Will Howard. Kacmarek’s solid performance suggests he could play a significant role alongside starter Gee Scott Jr. this season.
Defense
While the offense struggled, Ohio State’s defense shined, particularly on the line. Despite missing key players like Tyleik Williams and JT Tuimoloau, who were limited to individual work, the defensive line made its presence felt throughout the practice. Hero Kanu stood out with a key play in the situational drill, disrupting a two-point conversion and collapsing the pocket to set up a sack by Jack Sawyer. Other defensive linemen, including Jason Moore, Tywone Malone, and Mitchell Melton, also made significant plays, showcasing the depth and talent of the unit.
True freshman Eddrick Houston was another standout, consistently applying pressure and blowing up a run play during team drills, highlighting the potential impact he could have this season.
Special Teams
On special teams, the Buckeyes continued to search for consistency in the punting game. Nick McLarty’s leg strength was evident, but his inconsistency remained a concern Joe McGuire and Anthony Venneri were more reliable, striking the ball accurately and keeping the competition open for the top punter spot.
As Ohio State continues its preseason preparations, Thursday’s practice provided a glimpse into the depth and resilience of the team. Despite facing challenges on the offensive line, the Buckeyes displayed grit, while the defense showcased its potential dominance. With the quarterback competition narrowing and standout performances across the board, the Buckeyes are beginning to take shape as they inch closer to the start of the season.
