Before the season began, freshman running back Legend Bey was garnering some of the most hype of anyone on the Ohio State football team. He had an impressive spring, although he got hurt before the Spring Game. That seems to be the high point of his career thus far.
Since then, things have gone poorly for Bey. He was suspended at the start of Fall practice. While he scored a touchdown in the opener against Ball State, he has hardly seen the field since. After the Illinois game, it seems that Bey is firmly in the doghouse.
Legend Bey seems to have made Ryan Day mad enough to keep him out of games
Bey did not see the field at all against the Fighting Illini. He did get hurt against Kent State in his only carry of the game, as he hurt his ankle. Still, he was not listed on the availability report with any injury designation. It seems that Day simply didn't want to play Bey for whatever reason.
Bey must be in Day's doghouse. It's the only explanation for why he didn't see the field. Devin McCuin was the one returning kicks instead of him, which means he is in trouble. Day wasn't asked about Bey following the victory, but something is clearly happening behind the scenes.
Perhaps Bey continues to make mistakes in practice. Maybe he doesn't have the right attitude while preparing for games. Only the people within the building know that answer. However, Bey is still clearly one of the most explosive offensive options that the Ohio State Buckeyes have.
Whatever is happening, Day clearly values trust over talent. He has let Bo Jackson, Ja'Kobi Jackson, and Isaiah West get carries instead of Bey. Even on special teams, he has decided to let someone else take the return duties. Ohio State seems to have already moved on from him.
Ohio State is risking losing Legend Bey in the Transfer Portal
If Bey continues to be in Day's doghouse, they are risking losing him to the Transfer Portal at the end of the season. He was brought in to be a playmaker as a running back, even though he was a starting quarterback in high school. Ohio State is already technically his second program after he signed with Tennessee.
Of course, Bey can dig his way out of the doghouse. He's not the first person to be in Day's doghouse. Carson Hinzman found his way into the doghouse at the end of his freshman season. In fact, after he started at center in 2023, he didn't start at any position in 2024 until the injuries piled up because of podcast comments.
Now, Hinzman is the starting center and is one of the leaders of the team after he earned Day's trust back. Bey has the opportunity to do the same thing if he has the discipline to do so. That's tough to have in today's day and age of NIL. Players typically run from adversity if they hit a bumpy path.
How Bey responds to this benching will define his tenure with the Buckeyes, no matter how long it is.
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