Ryan Day's strategy with batch of new assistants tip hand about future of Ohio State's offense
The Ohio State Buckeyes had made some coaching staff decisions since winning its first national championship in a decade, but waited to announce them all at once. The last wave of moves came this week as the Buckeyes added three offensive assistants below Day and new offensive coordinator Brian Hartline. In order to help Hartline […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes had made some coaching staff decisions since winning its first national championship in a decade, but waited to announce them all at once. The last wave of moves came this week as the Buckeyes added three offensive assistants below Day and new offensive coordinator Brian Hartline.
In order to help Hartline and promoted co-offensive coordinator Keenan Bailey, the Buckeyes brought on former Purdue, Missouri and Mississippi State offensive line coach Marcus Johnson and ex-Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Utah offensive line coach Charlie Dickey in senior analyst type roles. He also brought in former Penn State tight end and grad assistant Wendy Laurent as an offensive analyst.
In total, the Buckeyes added two former players and three experienced individuals. You can see the theme with each coach as each has deep ties to the trenches.
Laurent had been the associate head coach and tight ends coach at Dartmouth most recently. Johnson, a former NFL starting offensive lineman, has coached several future NFL players such as Packers two-time Pro Bowl selection Elgton Jenkins.
Dickey, a 37-year coaching veteran, has produced numerous standout offensive linemen as well, including All-Americans and early-round draft picks like Zane Beadles, Teven Jenkins and Dalton Risner.
It's clear as day that Day is committing more resources to keeping the trenches strong in Columbus. It makes sense, given the team just won with the best offensive line the program had in place since its last title.
With former offensive line coach Justin Frye in Arizona with the Cardinals, the Buckeyes are looking to ride this new cast of coaches back to the Playoff in 2025-26.
