Ohio State offensive line coach Greg Studrawa, linebackers coach Al Washington and offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Kevin Wilson spoke together on a conference call with the media, and talked about all the changes that each of them have had to make without spring practice, and the impact all of this has had on recruiting.
Greg Studrawa
- Said the leadership of the three returning starters – Wyatt Davis, Thayer Munford and Josh Myers – will help keep the momentum rolling from the season prior.
- The best thing Davis did last year was being physical. “He tries to destroy people.” Also said that can be a downside because he can be overly physical in his attempts to take defensive linemen down.
- Said it will take someone to go out there and “grab the position by the you know what” to take the starting right tackle position that is now available. That battle is between Paris Johnson, Dawand Jones and Nicholas Petit-Frere.
- Johnson is facing a setback because he is losing some opportunities as a freshman early enrollee, but said the kid’s “maturity level and they way he attacks things” still gives the five-star prospect a chance to win the starting job.
- Jonah Jackson’s attention to detail and ability makes Studrawa believe that he will be able to play in the NFL for a long time.
- Mentioned Harry Miller, Matthew Jones and Gavin Cupp that can all compete for the job that Jackson is leaving behind.
- Said this is Petit-Frere’s “time to shine” now that his weight is where it needs to be and with what Studrawa has seen from him both in games and in those three practices.
- Said there are definitely concerns with the calorie intake and the types of food that the offensive linemen are eating in quarantine. Also said that there is constant communication with him, sports performance director Mickey Marotti and the players with if they are hitting weight and what everyone is eating.
- Said that diet is just as important in some senses as things like recruiting and conditioning, especially for the younger players who are more recently trying to cut or gain weight.
Al Washington
- Because the linebacker room has a lot of returning starters, he said those three spring practices featured a lot more install than usual that can be used as film.
- Said he does not have a fixed depth chart with just three practices under their belt.
- On Malik Harrison’s development: “He developed a great amount of skill, particularly with his hands.” And because of that, Washington thinks he has an upward trajectory moving forward.
- On Harrison’s NFL future: “Whatever team he goes to, I think his skillset will allow him to fit in many different roles … I think he’ll be great.”
- Said he has been very impressed by what he has seen from defensive end Zach Harrison based on the amount of talent, drive and passion that he has shown in just one year with Ohio State. Also mentioned his impressive athleticism based on how fast he was running on a track in the rain with sneakers on.
Kevin Wilson
- Said that he thinks it would take three or four weeks of conditioning to get the team back up to speed following the shutdown.
- Overall, Wilson said he thinks it would take six weeks overall with conditioning and practice prior to the start of a college football season.
- Said that the new freshman quarterbacks – Jack Miller and C.J. Stroud – both looked natural in those opening spring practices. One of those things that will be missed without these practices could be timing between the quarterback and receivers.
- Said Justin Fields looked very impressive in those three practices and throughout last season. With the strong offensive line and running back J.K. Dobbins, said that the team did not force Fields to have to do too much.
- On Fields: “About as talented as a young man that I’ve seen taken that snap”
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