Ryan Day still isn’t ready to say Legend Bey will be on the field Saturday against Maryland.
That uncertainty comes at a strange point in the true freshman’s season. Bey opened the year with a burst of promise, flashing the kind of quickness and elusiveness that made him an intriguing piece for Ohio State.
He backed that up in the opener against Ball State with a spectacular touchdown run. But the momentum hasn’t carried cleanly from there.
Bey was suspended before the season even started, then saw his role shrink. He hasn’t played in the last two games and logged only a few snaps against Kent State.
Asked about Bey’s availability during his weekly press conference, Day kept the door open without making any promises.
"Nobody wants to get these guys on the field more than we do. But we all have a responsibility.
So, again, put it on the coaches. It's our job as coaches to get them to where they need to be.
But it's also the players' responsibility to make sure they're doing that. If we can have a good week here, then I'm hoping we can see those guys on the field."
Day was also discussing Khary Wilder at the time, and the same broader theme applied: Ohio State wants more from some of its younger players, but trust and consistency still matter.
Wilder, meanwhile, has shown enough in his opportunities to look ready when he’s out there. Bey’s situation is a little different.
He’s still dealing with the kind of mistakes that have kept him on a short leash, including special teams issues in the Ball State game. For now, it looks like he remains in a tough spot, even if he’s handling it well on the sideline.
There’s at least a chance Saturday offers a reset. Maryland gives Ohio State a game where the Buckeyes should be able to lean on depth, and they’re expected to be heavy favorites. That makes this a natural spot for more freshmen to get work, especially if the starters don’t stay in deep into the second half.
For Bey, that would mean a real chance to earn more trust. He could use a handful of carries - at least five, if the opportunity is there - and Ohio State could use another player who can help create explosive runs to pair with the passing game. The Buckeyes are already one of the best offenses in the country, but if Bey can help them find more big-play juice on the ground, that only makes them more dangerous later in the season.
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