Ryan Day has spent years selling a simple message: the best players will play, no matter how old they are. At Ohio State, that idea has shaped the competition inside the program. But when it comes to true freshman Khary Wilder, the practice has not matched the promise.
Wilder has already flashed the kind of talent that makes it hard to ignore him. The former five-star recruit has looked like the defensive lineman with the highest ceiling to make a real dent, and he was the only Buckeye who could generate steady pressure on Arch Manning, doing it on back-to-back snaps. That kind of burst is exactly why many expected his role to grow faster.
Instead, Wilder’s snap count has lagged behind without much of a convincing explanation. Jason Moore has been the only defensive tackle to really justify the reps he’s received, which has come as a surprise.
Eddrick Houston has continued to disappoint, James Smith has not done much, and Smith was also hurt in the last game against Kent State. Wilder, by contrast, has looked strong, smart, and quick with his hands.
If Day means what he has always said about merit, Wilder should be getting more work. The Buckeyes need more disruption up front, and sacks are one of the obvious areas that still need fixing. Wilder appears capable of helping in that department, which makes the limited usage even harder to understand.
Saturday’s matchup with Illinois feels like a good time to change that. Ohio State is about to enter a far tougher stretch, with Iowa, Indiana, and USC coming in three of the next four games, all ranked opponents. The Buckeyes’ only other ranked opponent so far was Texas, and that did not go well.
This is the point in the schedule where Ohio State starts to reveal itself. Is this the team people expected in the preseason?
Can it really make a national title push? Those are the questions hanging over the Buckeyes now, and they’re the ones Ryan Day will be chasing answers to against the Illini.
That makes the roster decisions even more important. The easy rotation days are ending, and the emphasis has to shift toward the players who can actually change a game.
If Wilder keeps sitting for long stretches on Saturday, fans are not going to be thrilled. Twenty snaps should be the floor for him moving forward.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman Jay Timmons Is Earning Trust Faster Than Expected
Jay Timmons has moved quickly from newcomer to a player Ohio State is comfortable leaning on in the defensive backfield. The true freshman nickelback has already started for the defense, which is not something this program has asked of many freshmen in recent memory, and he has given the staff reasons to keep trusting him. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has praised his work, and veteran teammates have noticed the same thing after seeing how he has handled the job.
The early returns have been strong enough that Timmons is already being talked about as a prospect with a very high ceiling down the road. His play against Texas stood out as another sign that the moment has not been too big for him, even in an environment where young defensive backs are usually brought along more slowly. For Ohio State, the bigger question now is how far his rapid rise can continue as the schedule gets tougher and the expectations keep growing. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Commit Jamier Brown Is Quickly Regaining Lost Time
Jamier Brown is making up for a late start in a hurry. The Ohio State commit missed Waynes first two games because of a suspension, but he has wasted little time showing why he remains such a key piece for the Warriors, catching six passes for 63 yards and finding the end zone in a 49-24 win over Clayton Northmont in Greater Western Ohio Conference play.
Kye Graham kept the offense humming with 284 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Wayne backed it up with timely defensive stops and scoring drives to put the game away. For Ohio State, Browns recent stretch is the encouraging part, because the Buckeyes are getting a look at a receiver who is already helping his high school team settle in and build momentum after an unusual start to the season. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Fans Will Love The Standard Indiana Just Exposed
Curt Cignetti is already talking like a coach who knows success changes the conversation. After Indianas recent surge, the Hoosiers head coach used a message to the fan base to push back on rising expectations, pointing to the programs history of thin crowds and asking supporters not to grumble about lopsided wins. It was a blunt reminder that, around college football, a winning stretch can quickly turn into a referendum on how much winning is enough.
For Ohio State fans, the contrast lands cleanly. Ryan Day has made his own standard public and unmistakable, setting a much higher bar for the Buckeyes than simply stacking victories and keeping people content. So while Cignetti was managing the temperature in Bloomington, his comments served as a useful backdrop for what Ohio State expects of itself, and why the conversation in Columbus usually starts where other programs hope to finish. [Read more 🡒]