Ohio State football can beat USC and Caleb Williams by finding its own Heisman hopeful this spring

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Over 20 years have handed since a Large Ten quarterback who didn’t play for Ohio State soccer graced the Heisman Trophy stage.

Iowa’s Brad Banks completed runner-up to USC’s Carson Palmer in 2002. Since then, the very best a non-Buckeye quarterback from the Large Ten has completed within the voting for sports activities’ most hallowed award is fifth. Solely 4 have completed within the high 10.

Lincoln Riley will quickly give Ryan Day some competitors for his aspect hustle as a journey agent arranging mid-December journeys to New York. Over the previous six seasons, Riley has overseen three Heisman winners and one finalist. Lest that appeared like a Large 12-specific phenomenon, the previous Oklahoma coach took his system (and his quarterback) to USC and guided Caleb Williams to a different victory.

Beneficial Buckeyes tales

In 2024, Riley shall be within the Large Ten, jump-starting a mini quarterback renaissance within the league that has solely lately begun to catch as much as the Buckeyes.

In 2023, Williams might be ready for OSU in a playoff sport. So might different excessive profile quarterbacks, equivalent to Washington’s MIchael Penix Jr. or North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Williams’ national-caliber playmaking, although, has been confirmed and documented.

The Buckeyes want their reply, and this spring, they are going to be engaged on deciding whether or not Kyle McCord or Devin Brown greatest represents that normal.

That is, in spite of everything, what first-time beginning quarterbacks do underneath Day.

• He was solely the quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator in 2018 when Dwayne Haskins redefined passing offense at Ohio State. He threw for 4,831 yards and 48 touchdowns. He grew to become the primary Buckeye to go to New York as a Heisman finalist since Troy Smith received in 2006.

• Justin Fields transferred in to exchange Haskins and have become one in every of six Buckeyes to complete within the high six of the voting. He completed third within the nation in 2019 behind LSU’s Joe Burrow and Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts (coached by Riley) in go effectivity score.

• C.J. Stroud’s 2021 candidacy seemed shaky a few video games in. He healed up and responded by main Energy 5 quarterbacks in effectivity score and yards per try and ending second in landing passes.

All of them made the Heisman finalist stage of their first seasons. That’s the usual by which McCord and Brown shall be judged.

McCord has ready for this eventuality every day for the previous two seasons. Security Ronnie Hickman spoke up on his behalf on the NFL Scouting Mix earlier this week. He described McCord as a quarterback who can “sling it” and distribute precisely. These have been the attributes which made Stroud a late-season Heisman front-runner every of the previous two seasons.

McCord has additionally been uncovered to extra public scrutiny at this level. Brown operates from the enviable place of decrease expectations. It’s not his job to lose, however he was recruited exactly as a result of OSU wished one other starting-caliber quarterback for this fall.

Day mentioned he’s open to naming a starter by the tip of the spring, however didn’t decide to it. The winner will function with an abundance of weapons at his disposal. The Buckeyes, although, should additionally make strides towards filling enormous holes on the offensive line and discovering some stability within the operating sport.

Historical past suggests the winner of this battle ought to instantly stand up among the many favorites to finish up the place Stroud and Williams did on the Heisman stage. They can not get there alone, although.

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