Ryan Day stresses need for mobile quarterback at Ohio State

For many years Ohio State has been known for their prolific offense, highlighted by elite play at the quarterback and wide receiver positions where they’ve regularly produced NFL talent as of late. But with new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly now calling the plays, we may see the Buckeyes take to the ground a little bit more this upcoming season.

At UCLA Kelly’s offenses established an identity running the football and were often times assisted by a dual threat quarterback. And with the Buckeyes signing Will Howard this offseason through the transfer portal, head coach Ryan Day was asked at Big Ten Media Days about the importance of having a mobile quarterback in this year’s offense.

“Two things, I think the first thing is we knew we needed a quarterback who could run. At least have the ability to run, pull the ball,” Day said. “That was something that we felt like we needed to do. When you combine that with Chip’s history of always having a quarterback that can do that, that was that was the right fit for where we’re at.”

Last season with UCLA quarterback Collin Schlee was used as a rushing option with 425 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, and before that Dorian Thompson-Robinson was perennially one of the nation’s best dual threat quarterbacks with the Bruins. An offense that led the Pac-12 in rushing the last two seasons and ranked second the two seasons before that.

“Now he (Kelly) also has not always just run the quarterback in the ground, like that’s not what I’m talking about. Not talking about quarterback power every play, but having the threat of that,” Day explained. “When you think about what Justin [Fields] did, those type of things here. So we have a background in that as well, but I feel like Chip can bring us to the next level in terms of that and it’s exciting.”

From Fields to Braxton Miller and Terrelle Pryor , Ohio State has a history of effective dual threat quarterbacks. With Howard having the chance to be the next in line after rushing for 351 yards and nine touchdowns last season at Kansas State . Who’s competing with another quarterback with rushing ability in Devin Brown for the Buckeye’s starting job this season.

“I think the running backs are excited about it, the offensive line’s excited about it, Justin [Frye] and he have a good relationship that way so we’re gonna need to do that. We know if we’re gonna win the games we need to win, we have to get that done,” Day concluded.

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