Ohio State football: Expectations for Ewers must be kept reasonable

Ohio State football fans must temper their expectations of the young quarterback, even if he is truly great.

Here is some advice, Buckeye fans: breathe. Relax and take a big breath. Yes, Quinn Ewers is foregoing his senior year of high school and enrolling at Ohio State much sooner than expected. But, we need to keep expectations for him reasonable.

The country’s top-rated recruit for 2021 is considered a generational talent. Ryan Day reeled in a gem. Someday, I don’t doubt he’s going to be a very good, even great, college quarterback. Someday. Not right now.

I’ve already seen predictions of him starting the opener against Minnesota. Regardless of how talented he is, Ewers is not going to come in and win the starting quarterback job over three guys who have all been in the program for at least 6-7 months.

Day has said he wants to name a starter about two weeks into camp (read my article on that here). Ewers will still be learning the offense at that point. I’ve also seen predictions of him becoming number two on the depth chart by October and taking over as the starter by the end of the season.

Okay, yeah, I can see him possibly moving up the depth chart as the season progresses. POSSIBLY. I just do not see him becoming the starter this year. Those guys in front of him are very talented and I don’t believe it is going to be nearly as easy as some think for Ewers to move ahead of either C.J. Stroud, Jack Miller, or Kyle McCord.

I envision Ewers getting a few reps here and there in practice, but spending time with the scout team once the season begins. I see him watching a lot of film and learning. Ya know what? There is nothing wrong with that. There is no need to hurry Ewers along.

Hey, if he comes in and blows everyone away and earns playing time this year, I’m all for it. I’m all for whoever can lead the Buckeyes to a national title. That being said, I really believe things are going to heat up next spring after Ewers has had time to absorb Ryan Day’s system and get bigger and stronger in Mickey Marotti’s strength and conditioning program.

Until then, let’s allow this generational talent to develop at his own pace and not place undue expectations on him.