Ryan Day made a bigger deal about Legend Bey's mistakes in Week 1 than was probably appropriate. Overall, Bey had 100 all-purpose yards, after all. The thing is, 26 of them were acquired in ways Day cannot afford. Not with someone as talented as Bey.
The reason why Day was seemingly fixated on Bey's overzealousness in the return game on special teams is simple:
Bey, at the top of his game, could be a transformational talent for Ohio State.
Against Ball State, Bey took two balls out of the end zone when Block "O" captain Brandon Inniss was signaling for him not to. Though there were no repercussions against the Cardinals during the eventual 56-3 win, there could be when the stakes are higher and the margins are thinner.
There is very little concern across the country about whether or not Bey will figure it out eventually.
Legend Bey could be the Big Ten's most exciting player one day
Day knows the talent and versatility that Bey brings. The greater college football national media seems to know as well.
FOX Sports' RJ Young believes the Buckeyes' freshman running back could eventually be the most exciting player in the Big Ten.
"Bey is the next box-office Buckeye. He showed us why when he took a 25-yard swing pass to the end zone in OSU's Week 1 win. In the process, he juked four Ball State defenders with one move, cut back across the field and broke a tackle for his first touchdown," Young wrote. "That’s the good — a player who believes he can go for six every time he touches the ball. The bad is the same — a player who believes he can go for six every time he touches the ball."
"He demonstrated that when he didn’t listen to the up man on a kick return, brought the ball out, was tackled and left the Buckeyes with horrible field position. In one game, he appears to be a feast-or-famine player. But I believe that’s just his immaturity on display. When he grows up and stops making mental mistakes, he has the ability to be the most exciting player in the Big Ten."
Bey can be a weapon in the return game, out of the backfield, and even in the slot. He already scored a receiving touchdown in his debut.
There will be nothing more exciting than when he scores in two, or even all three, fashions at some point, though.
Legend Bey is one big game away from being a hero in OSU's locker room
Day's Week 1 sassiness on Big Ten Network airwaves about Bey's mistakes while speaking to Brooke Fletcher could soon be a distant memory.
Bey is a big game away against any of the upcoming opponents as part of Ohio State's legendary 2026 gauntlet to achieving that.
If anything, the public call-out from Day could make Bey very easy to rally around in the locker room if/when he starts thriving.
The nature of Bey's game means it'll be spectacular when it happens.
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