Ohio State HC Ryan Day: Buckeyes Defense Will Be 'Bigger and Better'

Day said a more confident defense under second-year coordinator Jim Knowles makes the Scarlet and Gray even more formidable than last season.

The Ohio State Buckeyes seem to be in the middle of a focus shift if you ask head football coach Ryan Day.

Day recently told "Always College Football" host Greg McElroy that his Buckeyes will be better in 2023, thanks to a more experienced defense.

"{Defensive coordinator} Jim Knowles will be in his second year, and it's significant because we really didn't lose much on that side of the ball," Day said. "We have a lot coming back. A lot of experience. Added some new pieces through the transfer portal."

Ohio State finished No. 13 in the country for total defense, allowing just over 321 yards per game. The Buckeyes also were top-five in both first downs defense (No. 4) and fourth-down conversion percentage (No. 5).

Seeing more of the Scarlet and Gray defense than offense is not a bad thing according to Day. Rather, the fifth-year head coach thinks the exact opposite.

"There's gonna be times where we have to play to our defense early on this season," Day said. "That's a good thing. I think if we want to reach our goals, we're going to have to rely on our defense at times."

Ohio State picked up quite a bit of defensive talent from the transfer and recruiting portals this offseason, some of which was showcased during the 2023 Spring Game in April.

Day said the new pieces still have some growing to do, but are in a good spot following the annual scrimmage.

"Certainly, the talent's there," Day said. "Now it's time to go put it on the field. But based on what we saw this spring, we're excited."

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