Four-star freshman running back Legend Bey has so much talent that you figure he'll overcome his suspension from the first two fall camp practices and get the hang of things at the collegiate level. Still, there are more issues under the hood with Bey's thus-far short-lived Ohio State tenure that many are realizing in the wake of this suspension, which is itself short-lived.
As Cleveland.com's Stefan Krajisnik noted, the coaching staff punished Bey in the spring by changing his number from the fabled Scarlet and Gray No. 2 to the less-storied No. 44. Bey's been having issues with off-field team standards almost his entire time in Columbus.
How much of that is truly troubling? Some in Tennessee Volunteers circles are already celebrating not landing the Forney, Texas, native, watching these Bey problems unfold. Bey hasn't stepped onto the field yet, but there are worrying signs behind the scenes. Even his Vols departure was a red flag. He was signed and reneged. It doesn't seem he's fully bought into the Buckeye way, either.
Bey would hardly be the first high school phenom to not work out at OSU. It'd be a real shame if he never got to be a multi-purpose weapon under Arthur Smith's play-calling, though. The two have a lot of potential, on paper.
Legend Bey's issues at Ohio State are reportedly minor
Let's slow down on the talk of Bey's demise. Those rumors, after all, could be greatly exaggerated in the wrong Maize and Blue or Big Orange hands.
Whatever Bey did was minor enough in the grand scheme to keep him out for just a few days. Having the number taken away in the spring may not have been meaningful enough discipline. It's possible that the message has gotten across now.
Undoubtedly, Bey will be working from behind now after the missed time. He was always going to be behind Bo Jackson and Isaiah West on the depth chart, anyway. Perhaps Bey's behavior, whatever it was, can make the decision to go with Florida Gators transfer Ja'Kobi Jackson as RB3 easier.
There's time to turn it around even beyond these bumps.
Legend Bey can still fulfill his promise at Ohio State
If Bey can make the most of his on-field reps and get on the same page as the coaching staff, the all-around athlete could be used in many different ways.
Not only is Bey an elite athlete who could get to the outside with his quick-burst acceleration, but he is a potential slot weapon and a trick-play wildcat weapon waiting to happen. He's too explosive to keep off the field, and that's been the case the entire time.
Ryan Day earns the big bucks by getting through to elite prospects like Bey. For Bey, Day has the responsibility to keep him happy for the year while keeping him in line with his growth within the legendary Buckeye culture.
It's a balancing act, but there's every reason to believe that these issues are a blip and that Bey can be exactly what everyone believes he can be in Columbus.
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