Ryan Day showers Ohio State’s most controversial player with love after seeing growth
The Ohio State Buckeyes have yet to lose a game in 2025, dating back to their historic National Championship run in January. Their start to this season has been fantastic, redefining how the country sees them. At the heart of their dominant defense is a set of familiar faces, including senior cornerback Davison Igbinosun.An elite […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes have yet to lose a game in 2025, dating back to their historic National Championship run in January. Their start to this season has been fantastic, redefining how the country sees them. At the heart of their dominant defense is a set of familiar faces, including senior cornerback Davison Igbinosun.
An elite physical specimen who led the country in defensive penalties for a cornerback in 2024, Igbinosun returned to the Buckeyes despite projecting to be a potential Day 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Evaluators wanted to see less panic and more technical discipline, and the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder is on the right track to surge in the 2026 class.
Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day was quick to shower Igbinosun with praise recently.
Ryan Day gives Davison Igbinosun major credit for growth
“There’s a lot of growth,” Day said. “Davison has always brought an edge to him. That’s why I love having IGB around me. He just brings great energy to the table. There’s an edginess, a toughness, a competitiveness, a grittiness, and he’s aggressive.”
Indeed, Igbinosun is grading especially well in several categories this year. While PFF is far from a biblical presence, they track stats well, and their grades match the film here. Igbinosun is again grading as an elite tackler and run defender, and he’s avoiding the big negative plays in coverage.
Allowing 11 receptions on 18 receptions is a career worst, but he’s also surrendered only one penalty through five games. He had 16 last year to go with two touchdowns allowed, two interceptions, and eight pass breakups. He’s yet to intercept a pass this year.
If Igbinosun can continue to deter targets and avoid mistakes, he should redeem himself for being a frustratingly physical player last year. He’s playing with the confidence and positioning he last had in 2023, which is a big boost to Ohio State’s surging defense.
