During his Tuesday press conference, Ryan Day revealed a surprising consideration: Ohio State might give Downs some playing time at running back. Although Downs is primarily set to start at free safety for the Buckeyes, Day mentioned that Downs has participated in meetings and individual drills with the running backs. Ohio State has been exploring ways to incorporate him into the offense, a discussion that dates back to Downs’ high school recruitment.
Day’s comments certainly add an element of unpredictability for opposing defenses. However, Ohio State must weigh the risks of using Downs on offense, especially when he is expected to be one of the top safeties in the country.
In the latest episode of Press Coverage, Eleven Warriors’ Dan Hope and Andy Anders discussed the potential for Downs to play both ways and the considerations Ohio State must address before making such a decision. They also reviewed other significant points from Day’s press conference, including the choice not to recruit an offensive lineman during the post-spring transfer window, ongoing position battles leading into preseason camp, and Day’s decision to avoid commenting on former recruiting staffer Erin Dunston’s move to Michigan.
