2023 Ohio State University
Being a Buckeye fan over the last decade has been a relatively easy experience compared to the schools entire history as the Buckeyes have been one of the most dominant teams in college football over that time. Dating back to the beginning of the Urban Meyer era in 2012, Buckeye fans really haven't had to worry about the quarterback position being an area of struggle. As they have gone from the electrifying Braxton Miller, to the always dependable J.T. Barrett, the wild card that was Cardale Jones and then back to Barrett, the record setting Dwayne Haskins Jr., the explosive Justin Fields, and then finally the man who just went second overall in the NFL Draft in C.J. Stroud. Now going into 2023 a question mark will loom over the top spot in the depth chart throughout this summer and the big question of who will start likely won't be answered until week one of the season.
The battle between Devin Brown and Kyle McCord has captured the nation's attention as the winner will attempt to restore Ohio State's reputation to the national media. A reputation that has been torn down after losses to their rival in back to back years and a lack of ability to beat top ranked teams over the last two years. Both guys came to Ohio State with fanfare as they were both top-10 quarterback recruits. Size wise the two are nearly identical to one another both coming in around 220 pounds and are each 6'3. The comparisons don't stop their either as coming out of high school they had each thrown over 80 touchdowns in their football careers.
The only difference between the two at this point in time is the one start for McCord back in 2021. A game that led a lot of Buckeye fans to ask why he wasn't starting over Stroud who had started off slow in his first few games and sat against Akron due to an injury. McCord then led the Buckeyes to a 59-7 victory over the Zips while throwing for two touchdowns and 319 yards on a day he went 13-18 on pass attempts. This lone start has kept many members of the media and fans speculating that he will be the day one starter as he would also be throwing to his top high school receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr. who has quickly rose to fame as the top player in college football today and has even been called by some a guaranteed NFL Hall of Famer after just one season. McCord and Harrison won three straight state titles at St. Joseph's Prep in Pennsylvania and their success together is what has left fans hoping to see the two in action in the shoe. So McCord has plenty pushing him into the spotlight and the starting job, so why has the race been so close.
Well Devin Brown, who started his high school career in Arizona before moving to Utah and winning a state title under coach Joe Germaine who played quarterback for Ohio State in the late 90s under John Cooper and is a member of the Ohio State All-Century team that was put together in the year 2000. Brown went into his senior season with 17 starts and had collected just over 3000 yards with just 28 touchdowns. A fine career for most quarterbacks, but not one that lands a guy at Ohio State. In his senior season under Germaine, Brown turned into a legendary figure at Corner Canyon High School leading the team to a State Title while throwing for over a state record 4,857 yards and third most passing touchdowns in state history with 57. In that season he also put his name on the list for most passing touchdowns in a game with 8 which was good enough for third most in state history and also has the fourth most total touchdowns in a season in state history with 65. The jump in production that he took during his senior season is the reason he got an offer from Ohio State and now he has gone toe-to-toe with Kyle McCord in every practice this offseason. That was until he got injured going into the spring game this year. An injury that Ryan Day told media members would not keep Brown out long and that he would still be very much in the race for the starting job when he returns to the field this summer.
Either one of these quarterbacks could be the next great quarterback at Ohio State behind the most electrifying wide receiver room in the nation in 2023. But one things for sure going into the season. No one will know who the starter will be until the offense takes the field against Indiana on September 2nd in Bloomington.