Eric Boggs
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day met with the media Wednesday after practice, offering praise for several Buckeyes while stressing the need for discipline and an edge as the season continues.
Day said defensive lineman Tywone Malone is showing steady improvement and graded out his best performance against Washington. “He’s been consistent in his approach. I think he graded out his best game that he’s graded out so far this year against Washington,” Day said. “So, I think his confidence is improving. You’re seeing more consistency. … And his mindset’s changed. And because of that, you’re seeing better play.”
The Buckeyes also continue to build trust in kicker Jayden Fielding, who Day noted has shown toughness and growing confidence. “He might be our leading tackler on kickoff. Which is not good. But he passed the toughness test, I guess, for a kicker,” Day said with a laugh. “Every day in practice, he’s getting more and more consistent. … When you’re a kicker, we say it’s one shot, one kill. That’s the terms we use. Because when you go in there, you only get one shot to be right. And it’s about discipline. It’s about focus. … His confidence is getting higher and higher. And we’re going to need him.”
Quarterback Julian Sayin, who completed 8 of 9 passes on a touchdown drive to open the second half against Washington, continues to earn Day’s trust. “I think that somebody’s building confidence every time he’s out there,” Day said. “He knows there are more goals to win the game. … He’s taking care of the football, which is the most important thing. And winning games.”
Day also emphasized the competitive edge of his team, something he believes is becoming a defining trait. “It’s an edgy group. They’re competitive. They go after it every day,” Day said. “And there was a point in the spring where we had to stop practice and just run. Because there were fights breaking out in practice. And that’s not a good thing for discipline. But it did show that these guys, they’re edgy. And they like to compete.”
The head coach stressed that the Buckeyes must balance that edge with discipline, while also maintaining hunger throughout the grind of the season. “The most desperate and hungry team is going to win every Saturday,” Day said. “And we have to make sure that we wake up every day in that same mentality. … This game is not played any other way.”
Day closed his session with praise for offensive linemen Luke Montgomery and Carson Hinzman, who both earned player of the game honors. “On the road, they handled themselves like pros,” Day said. “Luke was looking back to get the signal. His back is to the defense. Carson is making the calls in a loud environment. … And so I think for Luke, once he got his opportunity there in the playoffs, he took it and ran. … You’re starting to see him play his best football right now.”
With Minnesota coming to town Saturday night, Day believes his team’s mix of consistency, confidence, and competitive fire will be key to keeping momentum rolling.
