By Adeniyi Precious 
After a grueling 16-game season that ended with a national championship, Ohio State is taking a different approach to spring practice. Head coach Ryan Day announced that spring workouts, starting March 17, will be shorter—four weeks instead of five—and less physically demanding.
For veteran players like Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles, that means sitting out much of the spring, including the Buckeyes’ April 12 spring showcase. Day wants to balance keeping his team fresh while getting younger players much-needed reps before a season-opening showdown with Texas.
“We’ve got guys who have played a lot of football, and we need to be smart with their reps,” Day said. “Then we’ve got guys stepping into bigger roles who need to get ready, and young players who need as much football as possible.”
Unlike past years, the spring showcase won’t just be a glorified 7-on-7 drill. Day says the team will still simulate game situations, even if some key players sit out.
With another deep playoff run in mind, Day is focused on keeping his team healthy while developing the next wave of Buckeye stars. Expect less contact in practices and more of an NFL-style “OTA” approach with teaching and lighter drills.
Ohio State kicks off spring practice on March 17, with plenty of position battles to sort out and new faces looking to make an impact.