Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day addressed the status of freshman running back Legend Bey during a press conference on Tuesday. Day confirmed that Bey has been sidelined during the spring sessions but expressed optimism about his imminent return to the field.

Injury Update on Freshman Running Back

Hopes for Quick Return

Day stated that Bey has missed "a couple of practices" this spring due to an undisclosed injury. The coach noted that Bey showed promise when he was participating, saying, "He certainly flashed when he was in there."

The coach highlighted the difficulty of Bey’s transition within the offense. Day mentioned that moving from quarterback to running back presents significant challenges, especially at the Ohio State level.

Running Back Room Depth and Development

Current Personnel Limitations

The Buckeyes are currently managing several absences in the running back corps this spring. They are already without Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, both of whom are recovering from shoulder surgeries.

This leaves the active group consisting of Florida transfer Ja’Kobi Jackson (redshirt senior), Anthony “Turbo” Rogers (redshirt freshman), Favour Akih (four-star freshman), and walk-on Stanley Jackson Jr.

Day Seeks Improvement from Unit

Day emphasized his desire to see the entire running back room advance to the next level of performance. He indicated that while progress is being made, the unit still has significant work ahead.

"They’re working. Looking to get better," Day commented. He added that resolving the unit's development issues would not happen quickly, stating, "I don’t think that’s gonna get solved in a week of practice. We got work to do there."

Individual Player Assessments

Day offered specific feedback on several players currently practicing:

  • Favour Akih: He is actively in the learning process, according to the head coach.
  • Ja’Kobi Jackson: Day praised Jackson’s instincts and vision, noting he has shown the ability to "really hit the hole the right way." He added that Jackson is working on playing with more power behind his pads.
  • Anthony “Turbo” Rogers: The coach observed that Rogers has had a significantly better offseason compared to the previous year and is improving, though he still has "a long way to go."