'RJ Day does not want to play at Ohio State': Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day could face painful decision as son shies away from program

While the Ohio State Buckeyes have earned the trust of fans and NFL evalutors when it comes to selecting their quarterback, there's an interesting situation forthcoming for head coach Ryan Day. Day, coming off his first national championship season, will have the chance to recruit his son, RJ Day, in the 2027 class. 

Day would almost surely want his son on the Buckeyes' roster, but would his son want to seek out his own opportunity elsewhere? And is it conceivable that a 6-foot-1, three-star passer could turn down a preferred walk-on or scholarship opportunity with the Buckeyes?

While the St. Francis de Sales passer has racked up 14 offers from mostly MAC-level programs, Austin Ward and Jeremy Birmingham of the Austin & Birm Show brought up a surprising liklihood that RJ Day could turn his father down and create his own journey.

When asked about whether Day could come to Ohio State and whether his relationship to the program would be a distraction, Birmingham explained, "I am confident RJ does not want to play at Ohio State. He wants to build his own path. He has two years left of high school and has made himself into a pretty good quarterback over the last couple of years."

"He's turned into a pretty decent, mid-level Group of 5 quarterback prospect. He just has to decide what he want to do. Does he want to take football and play it or does he want to take it and use it to become a coach? I don't know that he has the ability to end up with an NFL ceiling, but he's extremely cerebral."

Birmingham continued on to talk about more realistic landing spots.

"Boston College is one that has caught his attention, and his relationship with Syracuse is good. We'll see if anyone else comes around. Maybe Michigan will offer like they did with Chase Herbstreit for no reason, just to try to play with Ryan Day's emotion."

Ward then brought up a potential path for RJ Day to start at Ohio State and then head to somewhere like Cincinnati after taking what he learned and maximizing the Buckeyes' coaching.

"RJ has spent so much time at the Woody [Hayes Center] and The Horseshoe that it's hard to believe he won't spend at least two years at Ohio State to get developed and be in a Mickey Marotti strength and conditioning program...If the ceiling for RJ Day is Cincinnati's starting quarterback-"

"That's pretty good!" Birmingham interrupted.

"That's good, but you don't have to start your career in Cincinnati. He might be better served to spend two-to-three years at Ohio State's development program," Ward continued, before saying that's not a prediction, but rather a possible avenue for the father-son duo.

Day recently shared that Buckeye legend Eddie George offered him a scholarship to Bowling Green on his Twitter. Bowling Green joined Akron, Boston College, Cincinnati, Toledo, Kent State, Marshall, Miami (Ohio), and Eastern Michigan with an offer on the table.

"Coach George is first class,” said RJ Day.

The St. Francis De Sales High School's all-time passing leader recently visited Cincinnati, Northwestern, Iowa State, Purdue, and UCLA. He'll continue on camp visits throughout the summer.