OSU’s Davison Igbinsoun is playing with an “edginess” and maturity that rubs off on players around him. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
The Ohio State football team needed to grow up fast in the early season to win its first four games and ascend to No. 1. Now the task is to keep growing and improving to reach its biggest goals.
Columbus, OH – Opening the season against Texas created the perfect scenario for Ohio State. Not because the Buckeyes won. That was a bonus.
But because the presence of the preseason No. 1 team didn’t permit the Buckeyes to settle into the season. For a team loaded with new starters, August was grow-up time, time to chase a higher level of physical, mental and emotional maturity.
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No time for growing pains. And the Buckeyes responded adroitly to the challenge.
Veteran columnist Jeff Gilbert writes Ohio State football and basketball and OHSAA sports for Press Pros Magazine.com.
Of course, a 4-0 start, a No. 1 ranking and a dominating defense guarantee nothing. But it’s a really, really good start.
Beating the Longhorns 14-7 was a good Exhibit A on the evidence table of proving maturity. Playing with purpose against Grambling State and Ohio University when they could have been lackadaisical is Exhibit B.
And Exhibit C? Going to the West Coast and handcuffing Washington’s prolific offense for a 24-6 win in the Big Ten opener.
Head coach Ryan Day talked again Tuesday about his preseason preaching for his players to grow up now. He likes the results so far.
“You’re seeing maturity – there’s no way to shake it other than that,” Day said. “You’re seeing guys handle themselves well – like pros.”
The defense figured to be good despite eight new starters. The three coming back – linebacker Sonny Styles, safety Caleb Downs, cornerback Davison Igbinosun – are providing necessary leadership.
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Yes, even Igbinosun. Surprised? He’s cut down on the pass interference penalties of last year. Making himself a better player is Exhibit D evidence of even the returning starters continuing to mature.
“I love having IGB around me,” Day said. “There’s an edginess, there’s a toughness, there’s a competitiveness, a grittiness and he’s aggressive.”
Another sign of maturity is good body language, language that remains positive in adverse situations. Day cited Igbinosun and defensive end Kenyatta Jackson as Exhibit E.
“His edge rubs off on a lot of guys,” Day said of Igbinosun. “This is a team sport. Your body language affects other people on the team. And the minute he walked on our campus, he’s had an effect.”
Not the most experienced, but freshman Bo Jackson ran 17 times for 80 yards in the Buckeyes’ win over Washington.
Jackson is one of four new starters on the defensive line, a group that dominated Washington’s offense.
“You’re seeing KJ play with just great energy in the game, and his body language, in my opinion, was as good I’ve ever seen it,” Day said. “Played with great poise. He was encouraging his teammates.”
New starting quarterback Julian Sayin should probably be the first evidence on the table, but let’s lump the offensive evidence together as Exhibit F. Sayin’s progression was most evident in two ways at Washington. He threw the ball away when necessary. And he scrambled for positive yards, including a time when he gave Jayden Fielding a shorter field-goal attempt.
Freshman running back Bo Jackson continued to make a case to be the No. 1 running back. He carried the ball 17 of the 34 times the Buckeyes ran the ball and gained 80 yards.
The offensive line, with two new starters, might be playing better than it seems. They have allowed the fewest tackles for loss and only three teams have allowed fewer sacks. That kind of execution helps all aspects of the offense.
People of the jury, I submit plenty of evidence exists of growth throughout the team.
“They’re executing on the field well, they’re building confidence,” Day said. “I say all that, and you guys know what I’m going to say: We’re not anywhere near where we need to be.”
Still, Texas was a fertile first step. Washington was a strong second step. The Buckeyes come back home this Saturday night to face Minnesota. Then it’s back on the road against Illinois, a team that bounced back with a win over USC the week after being humiliated by Indiana.
While Day preached grow up in August, the in-season mantra never wavers.
“We have to continue to get better,” he said of the process every team must navigate to reach its potential.
The results-oriented goals never change. Win the Big Ten and win a national championship. Last year’s run required maturity. That team started with a lot of it. This team is on its way.
“To play the way that we’ve played up to this point shows maturity,” Day said. “To go on the road and get that win is only going to build our confidence moving forward, and those are the type of environments we’re going to have to win in order for us to reach our goals.”
The early evidence suggests a lot. But, as Day says about the need to keep improving, the verdict is a long way off. The jury of poll voters, and surely a bulk of the team’s fans, like what they see.
But even more maturity and execution will be required to deliver the verdict the Buckeyes want.
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