‘Has stepped up in a big way’ – Ryan Day singled out an Ohio State legacy player who is stepping up for the Buckeyes right where they need it
The Ohio State Buckeyes did most of their transfer portal work during the winter, adding key pieces such as tight end Max Klare and offensive tackle Ethan Onianwa. In the spring, Ohio State explored the possibility of adding a defensive interior player, targeting a few options. However, the Buckeyes ultimately didn’t add anyone, leading head […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes did most of their transfer portal work during the winter, adding key pieces such as tight end Max Klare and offensive tackle Ethan Onianwa.
In the spring, Ohio State explored the possibility of adding a defensive interior player, targeting a few options. However, the Buckeyes ultimately didn’t add anyone, leading head coach Ryan Day to reassess the situation.
“It got to the point where, for us, there were certain people in the portal, and the question was, ‘Are they better than what we have?’ And the decision that was made was no,” Day explained last week at Big Ten Football Media Days.
Ryan Day singles out a Buckeye legacy player who is standing out
Whenever Ryan Day singles out a player in a press conference, it’s worth noting—he usually has a reason. One name that came up last week was defensive tackle Will Smith Jr., the son of the late Will Smith, who starred at Ohio State before enjoying a successful nine-year NFL career.
“Will Smith has stepped up in a big way,” Day said. “We feel like K-Mac [Kayden McDonald] has done a good job. Eddrick [Houston] has to have a huge August for us, and then the list goes on because we’ve got to build some depth behind those guys.”
Coming into the season, the expectation was that McDonald and Houston would be the two starters replacing Ty Hamilton and Tyliek Williams. Both remain key contributors and potential starters, but it now appears Smith is positioned to play a significant role as well. Entering his third season, Smith appeared in seven games last year as a redshirt freshman.
Out of high school, Smith was a four-star defensive line prospect and ranked No. 243 nationally in the 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-3, 294-pound legacy Buckeye will compete with Tywone Malone and Jason Moore to provide depth on the interior.
Sometimes, it takes players until their third or even fourth year to truly break out—and that could be the case for Smith. If he emerges in 2025, don’t be surprised. Day’s praise is rarely without purpose.
