COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day is speaking now to discuss the Buckeyes' first spring football practice. You can watch the press conference LIVE in the video player above.
Day said having Stroud back at quarterback for a second season will go a long way in helping OSU's offense hit the ground running by the time the season starts in Sep. 3 when the Buckeyes host Notre Dame.
"When you dive into C.J. you can tell he's highly motivated," Day said. "He comes with the mindset that he has to prove himself every day and that's part of what makes him great."
Day said the tight end position is a concern for OSU since Mitch Rossi won't be available this spring with an undisclosed injury. Coaching that position will once again be OSU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson who also spoke Tuesday.
"We've got a real inexperience at that position," Wilson said. "Their ability to play that position will make the [offense] complete."
Potential players to take over for the departed Jeremy Ruckert include Gee Scott, Joe Royer and potentially Cade Stover who might play linebacker instead like he did in the second half of the Rose Bowl. Ohio State finished as the No. 1 scoring offense last season but Wilson said there's still room to improve.
“Right now, we’re a good stat offense," Wilson said. "To be an elite offense, we’ve got to be a little bit more consistent.”
Here's a complete list of Buckeyes who won't be available for spring drills:
Position changes are part of any new season and that's true in a few areas for the Buckeyes.
On offense, Paris Johnson Jr. will take over at left tackle while Matt Jones will fill in at guard with Thayer Munford and Nicholas Petit-Frere leaving for the NFL. The other guard position could be filled by rising sophomore Donovan Jackson.
“His ceiling is as high as anybody out there. He has a chance to be a real player," Wilson said.
At receiver, Jaxson Smith-Njigba will be OSU's No. 1 receiver with the departure of Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave.
"We're going to have to move Jaxon around. He's a quick learner," Day said. "I think they're all learning multiple positions right now and that's the way it should be done."
Rising sophomore receivers Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. will see more playing time as will rising junior Julian Fleming who's dealt with persisting injuries throughout his first two years.
On defense, Oklahoma State transfer Tanner McCalister will be a leader for the Buckeyes after playing for former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator and current Ohio State DC Jim Knowles who answered questions Tuesday as well.
"We have speed everywhere, we have size everywhere, the way guys move on the football field, it's impressive to me. It's my job to mold that into a cohesive unit on the defense," Knowles said.
Knowles said Ohio State has a "safety-driven" defense and that he'll take full advantage of the players at that position, including McCalister, Ronnie Hickman, Josh Proctor, Kourt Williams, Bryson Shaw and Lathan Ransom.
The Buckeyes began its spring drills today at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center as they prepare for the intra-squad spring game on April 16.
