For the second time in a row out of season Devin Brown ended up on the wrong side of an Ohio State quarterback competition. The redshirt sophomore couldn’t beat the Kansas State graduate transfer Will Howardwho arrived in Columbus in January with 27 career starts and a Big 12 title under his belt.
Brown has improved this offseason, particularly by flashing a great long ball in training camp, and has held his own in competition with Howard, although it would have taken a Herculean effort to outperform the more experienced Howard.
However, Brown is currently the Buckeyes’ backup quarterback.
But head coach Ryan Day is keeping the competition for that position open, and Day confirmed that the true freshman Julian Sayin is certainly in the running for this spot.
“Devin has shown he can do just about anything we ask of him,” Day said. “He just has to be consistent and take care of the football to make sure he does a great job going forward. If he can do that, he can play and contribute.”
“A big part of being a quarterback is resilience and keeping working even when you hit a little obstacle or resistance along the way,” Day added, referring to the 2014 Buckeyes national championship team that needed three quarterbacks – Braxton Miller, JT Barrett and Cardale Jones – before reaching the finish line.
Brown was the Buckeyes’ third quarterback in 2022, behind Kyle McCord and of course CJ Stroud. He did not attempt a pass, but was involved in 15 offensive snaps (nine against Toledo and six against Rutgers).
Brown competed with McCord for the starting center spot last offseason and during Peach Bowl preseason. He suffered a setback in April when he suffered a finger injury that required surgery, costing him the final week of practice and the spring game. Both McCord and Brown took turns at the top during training camp, but McCord was given the nod for Week 1 and then named the full-time starter before Week 3.
As mentioned above, the Buckeyes sent Brown to the red zone midway through the season, and he scored his first rushing touchdown at Purdue (he would have scored another had he not fumbled). Later that day, he threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Inniss while mopping up. The following week, Ohio State sent Brown to the red zone against Penn State, but he sprained his right ankle while trying to get to the goal line.
Brown was benched during the final stages of the regular season and, although he was ultimately not used again, did not play again until the Cotton Bowl.
His first career start came in the New Year’s Six Bowl Game, and that was no surprise. Sammy Baugh was in the first-ever Cotton Bowl, and Brown wears number 33 in tribute to Baugh. Unfortunately for Brown, another sprain, this time to his left ankle, sidelined him in the first half. Ohio State eventually lost 14-3 to Missouri, but Brown has remained unflappable in his comeback with the Buckeyes.
That rollercoaster ride will continue this season, with Brown once again waiting in the wings.
