OSU spring practice No. 8 recap: QB, D, injury observations and J.J. Smith is the real deal

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COVER PHOTO: Second-year quarterback Lincoln Kienholz (3) hands off to true freshman running back James Peoples (20) during their eighth spring practice of the 2024 season. Picture by Andy Evans/Columbus Wired.

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The Buckeyes’ eighth spring practice of 2024 is officially in the books and the media was invited to check it out along with family members, recruits and students for the ninth annual Student Appreciation Day.

As per the usual for the last several years, some positions seem to be locked down while other positions saw a mish-mash of different guys getting reps with the first team. Head coach Ryan Day said giving guys opportunities to play with the first, second and third teams is important because it keeps the players from getting locked into having the same guys on the field with them all the time.

“You want to give everyone an opportunity to play with the ones, the twos and the threes and just see what that looks like when it’s all the same,” Day said after the practice. “Some times when someone’s getting reps with the ones, the twos and the threes, they can get a little tainted just based on what’s around them, so we try to do that. We’ll look at it here and continue to move forward based on what we think is best for the competition.”

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Here’s what we saw:

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All five quarterbacks repped with the first team (ones); the offensive line looks like it’s still a work in progress; TreVeyon Henderson got the majority of snaps with the ones but the other running backs took a fair amount of first team snaps, too; the defense looks like they’re going to be even nastier than last year; and true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah “J.J.” Smith looks to be every bit as advertised.

Even though all five QB’s got reps with the ones, fifth-year Will Howard, third-year Devin Brown and second-year Lincoln Kienholz got the majority. True freshman Julian Sayin got a decent amount while fellow true frosh Prentiss “Air” Noland picked up a couple here and there.

Day said Howard is continuing to progress since joining the team in January, has begun to look calmer in the pocket and the game seems to be slowing down for him.

“He had some really good throws - he did miss some throws, as well - but he does a really good job in the pocket of having poise.”

Day then talked about former QB C.J. Stroud and how Stroud had great pocket sense especially when it came to feeling out the pass rush and said Howard seems to have that quality, too.

“You can’t see the pocket, you can’t see the rush but you can feel it and I think he does,” Day said. “His height helps him to see over the trees (offensive linemen) a little bit. I definitely notice that about him. He’s got a good way about having poise back there (in the pocket). As we have different reads (and) his eyes get right and his feet time up with that, you’re starting to see some of those plays being made and handling the offense. But (we're) only a few weeks in here. I think we’re seeing progress but I’d really like to see him take the next step in the next two weeks.”

It could be argued, though, that Brown had the best day of the quintet, throwing a touchdown to second-year receiver Bryson Rodgers after Rodgers split true freshman safety Jaylen McClain and third-year walk-on safety Brenten “Inky” Jones. Brown placed the ball squarely in Rodgers’ arms and Rodgers sped the rest of the way untouched for the score. 

Brown also dropped a dime to Smith - who beat senior cornerback and three-year starter Denzel Burke off the line of scrimmage - as Smith spotted the ball perfectly in the air, leapt up and caught it as sophomore safety Caleb Downs was closing in on him.

And speaking of Smith, let’s just say the hype around him is warranted.

Not only did he make a great catch from Brown but he also caught a nice slant over the middle from Sayin, with that pass and catch coming with the ones. Then, Smith scored a TD of his own on a bomb from Kienholz in a seven-on-seven drill after beating sophomore CB Jermaine Mathews, Jr. up the right sideline with Mathews heavy on coverage. As Mathews grasped onto Smith’s shoulder, Smith jumped up at the last second and hauled in the pass with Mathews falling to the turf and Smith rambling the last 35 yards unabated to the end zone.

It definitely seems like Day absolutely knows what he has in the true freshman.

“When you have guys who have discipline and skill … that’s when you have a chance to have a great player,” Day said. “I think (he) has discipline in his life (and) has built up a skill package and really stepped in. You know, he got his black stripe off real quick (and) he’s got a great approach.”

Smith had his black stripe removed after the fourth practice on March 21.

As electric as Smith has looked to both the coaching staff and those that saw him in person during the Student Appreciation Day practice, Day stopped short of speaking too highly of Smith, simply for fear of potentially inflating Smith’s ego.

“I’m going to be careful with what I say,” Day quirked, “but he’s certainly been a pleasure to watch and we’re all very excited about his future.”

However, Day admitted that Smith is making a serious push to be a permanent part of the ones come the fall.

“If he continues on the path that he’s on, he’s going to play a lot of football and certainly would have a chance to start, as well.”

Smith split his reps evenly with both the ones and twos. Fourth-years Emeka Egbuka and Jayden Ballard as well as second-year Carnell Tate saw a lot of first team reps, too.

Receiver Brandon Inniss was dressed but did not practice. Day said he has a “temporary” injury but did not specify what it is and hopes to get him back “soon”.

Henderson got the majority of the reps out of the backfield with the first team but third-year Dallan Hayden got a solid amount, too, while third-year Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins and true freshman James Peoples also toted the rock on a few occasions with the first team.

“All of the running backs have run hard this spring (and) they’re seeing some of the different schemes that we’re doing. Not that (the schemes) are that much different (from last year) but just a little bit different and they’re picking that up really well.”

Day said Henderson has done a great job with his leadership, Judkins has done a good job of picking up on the offense and Hayden has had a “really good spring, as well” but it’s been good to see Peoples and fellow true freshman running back/athlete Sam Williams-Dixon picking up the offense quickly.

“I think it’s a deep room,” Day said. “I’d like to think it’s the best room, in terms of talent, in the country and we’re going to continue to build on that.”

Judkins lost his black stripe earlier this week while Peoples still has his.

One guy, though, that has caught the offensive staff’s eye is walk-on T.C. Caffey and Day said the third-year out of Hubbard, Ohio is going to see some playing time.

“I think he’s going to play for us and get some carries for us, he’s done a very good job. He’s very disciplined in his approach and he’s a guy that could really bring value for us.”

The offensive line seems to be “set” with Josh Simmons (left tackle), Donovan Jackson (left guard), Seth McLaughlin (center), Luke Montgomery (right guard) and Josh Fryar (right tackle) pretty much taking every single snap as the ones. Although, Day wouldn’t commit that this will be the official starting five.

“We’ve done a little moving around, especially on the right side, in particular,” he said.

Even though Fryar was at right tackle throughout the practice, Day said Montgomery and third-year Tegra Tshabola have also been taking reps at the position. He also said McLaughlin along with third-year Carson Hinzman and second-year Josh Padilla have all done a nice job at center.

“We’re going to try and mix those guys in against our (first team) defensive line and see what that looks like. I think there’s been good progress that’s been made but we’ve got to see who those five are and then as we head into preseason, get that chemistry down.”

Day said he’d “like to think” that his starting five on the offensive line are currently on the roster and that he won’t have to go to the portal to supplement the right tackle position.

“But we still have two more weeks to evaluate that,” he said.

On defense, a lot of sprinkling in and out with the ones happened at all of the positions.

Downs was with the ones as the adjuster safety and looks to have that spot locked down after taking over for sixth-year starter Josh Proctor, who exhausted his eligibility. Second-year safety Jayden Bonsu filled in for fifth-year Lathan Ransom at the bandit spot because Ransom was held out of practice.

Day said Ransom didn’t practice simply due to precautionary reasons but has been doing individual and seven-on-seven drills throughout the spring.

“We’ll continue to add in things as spring goes on but just based on the injury last year, we want to ease him back into it. Everything looks great (but) we just want to be smart with him,” Day said.

Ransom suffered a season-ending, non-contact Lisfranc foot injury on Oct. 28 against Wisconsin. A Lisfranc injury is where the bone and/or ligaments get torn in the middle of the foot.

Fourth-year Jordan Hancock was with the ones when in the nickel package as the slot cover safety but third-year Sonny Styles was seen on the field quite often with the ones at his new linebacker position when they went to a three linebacker set. His brother - fourth-year Lorenzo Styles, Jr. - was also seen at the slot cover safety with the twos.

Sonny, along with fifth-year Cody Simon and third-years C.J. Hicks and Gabe Powers all rotated at the two different LB positions with Hicks and Simon being with the ones a slight majority over Sonny and Powers.

Day said all of the linebackers have shown they can get the job done.

“You’re seeing the speed and the athleticism and the length between Cody, (second-year) Arvell (Reese), Sonny, C.J. (and) Gabe Powers. You know, those guys are athletic (and) all these guys … can blitz, they can cover, they can check defenses (and) they’re doing a good job with that.” 

Day credited newly anointed linebackers coach James Laurinaitis and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles with having done a really good job of training them and is “excited” about the group but also said “they’re not where they need to be yet.”

“I’m glad we’re not playing tomorrow,” Day said, “but you can see the potential.”

At corner, Burke and Davison Igbinosun were the main first teamers while Mathews and fellow second-year Calvin Simpson-Hunt also got first team reps. True freshman and top-rated corner Aaron Scott, Jr. was seen repping with the twos. Igbinosun made a defensive play while guarding Tate that turned some heads.

The defensive line had a bevy of different guys flip-flopping in and out but looks set with fourth-year Tyliek Williams and fifth-year Ty Hamilton at the inside tackle spots, while fourth-years and returning starters J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer have the ends secured.

However, third-year Hero Kanu flashed at the tackle spot and defensive line coach Larry Johnson is quoted as being high on him as well as second-years Jason Moore and Kayden McDonald, who also saw some time with the ones. Ends Caden Curry, Kenyatta Jackson and Mitchell Melton played a majority of their snaps with the twos.

Practices nine through 14 take place on April 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 with the spring game taking place on Saturday, April 13 at noon.