Ohio State opens spring football practice with quarterback competition

On Mar 7, 2023

Spring football practice is underway at Ohio State.

The Buckeyes opened the first of their 15 practices on Tuesday morning on the indoor field at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. The first half-hour was open to reporters.

Below are some notes and observations from warmups and the first five periods.

* Kyle McCord was first in the rotation of quarterbacks during drills, followed by Devin Brown and Tristan Gebbia, beginning the competition to replace C.J. Stroud. McCord is Ohio State’s longest-tenured quarterback, having spent two seasons with the program, while Brown enrolled last year and Gebbia transferred from Oregon State this offseason.

* Running back TreVeyon Henderson is no longer in a walking boot as he recovers from foot surgery undergone in December. He warmed up with teammates, stretching and running, before joining a group of rehabilitating players off to the side of the field.

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* The rehab group included fellow running back Evan Pryor, wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg. Coach Ryan Day mentioned last month that they would be unavailable for spring practice.

* The rotation of running backs went Miyan Williams, then Chip Trayanum and Dallan Hayden.

* Marvin Harrison Jr. was among the small handful of receivers returning punts with Egbuka sidelined.

* As the offensive linemen hit the blocking sled, guards Donovan Jackson and Matt Jones led the group, followed by tackles Josh Fryar and Zen Michalski, then Carson Hinzman and George Fitzpatrick.

* Tight end Cade Stover, who injured his back in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia and later was hospitalized as a precaution, was practicing.

* After he injured an anterior cruciate ligament during the spring game in April, Mitchell Melton was sidelined for a season, but he was back practicing, at least going individual dills with the defensive linemen. Before suffering his season-ending knee injury, he was a candidate to line up at the “Jack” position, a hybrid defensive end-linebacker spot.