During his Wednesday night press conference at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day revealed multiple special starters, naming both Ohio State’s rotation of punt returners and its kick returner for its season opener against Ball State at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Day said a trio of receivers, Phillip Bell, Brandon Inniss and Devin McCuin, would lead the Buckeyes punt return unit.
“We have those three guys that we feel good about,” Day said. “We’ll see how many (punt returns) we’ll have and see how many opportunities we give each guy and how that plays out. But those are really our three guys in the punt return game.”
Inniss was Ohio State’s primary punt returner in 2025, returning 17 for 181 yards and a 10.65 average, while the senior McCuin and sophomore Bell will return punts for the first time in their collegiate career.
Day then identified running back Legend Bey as Ohio State’s kick returner, preaching ball security to the speedy freshman.
“Right now, we trust that (Bey) is going to go in the game and take care of the football for us and give an opportunity to be explosive,” Day said. “The number one job is to make sure at the end of the play we have the football, and then we’ll go from there. I think that’s probably the message: when the ball’s in your hands at the end of the play, we have to have the ball. Then let your training just kick in. Let your natural instincts take over. The rest of it will just happen.”
Bey was renowned for his 4.33-second 40-yard dash coming out of North Forney (Texas), but his start to fall camp was delayed after he was suspended for the first two days for a violation of team rules.
Still, Day said Bey has controlled his own destiny with a strong response to the punishment, showcasing his explosive ability throughout the remainder of fall camp.
While the former high school quarterback is still learning the running back position, it appears he has already found a way to showcase that elite speed and athleticism from day one at Ohio State.
