Ohio State spring football notes and observations from sixth practice

On Mar 28, 2023

Ohio State returned to spring practice on Tuesday after scrimmaging three days earlier at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

The first four periods of the Buckeyes’ sixth practice were open to reporters. Below are some notes and observations.

* Tommy Eichenberg is among the players who are limited this spring due to injury rehabilitations. Both of Eichenberg’s hands were injured last season. But after being seen with the rehab group at past practices, he has progressed to non-contact work as graduate assistant James Laurinaitis led him and other linebackers through some position drills.

* While safety Kourt Williams was wearing a sling earlier this month, he was in uniform seen stretching his right shoulder with a resistance band off in a corner of the indoor field.

* The group of rehabbing players included Caleb Burton, a sophomore receiver who was hurt in the Buckeyes’ first practice. Quarterback Devin Brown said at the time that Burton “heard something pop,” but he was running and moving around Tuesday.

* Coach Ryan Day has emphasized competitiveness during practices, and the Buckeyes concluded stretching with players laying down on the turf, getting up and sprinting 20 yards with winners for each group announced over the loudspeakers. Kicker Parker Lewis’ name was called twice.

* Brandon Inniss, a five-star wide receiver from south Florida who was the highest-ranked recruit to sign with Ohio State as part of the 2023 class, does not enroll until the summer, but has been at practices, including Tuesday’s workout, shadowing Brian Hartline, the Buckeyes’ wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator.

* Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. continues to be among the small handful of players who are returning punts.

* Quarterbacks and receivers went through a series of route running drills with Harrison and Jayden Ballard leading the lines of receivers. The receivers, running backs and tight ends also did ball security drills while the passers had been throwing separately in an earlier period.

* As the full offense and defense matched up for the start of the fifth period, Devin Brown lined up as the first team’s quarterback. Junior Kyle McCord had been first up during Saturday’s scrimmage, though both of the passers have taken first-team reps throughout 11-on-11 portions of practice.