Ohio State football offensive lineman says he's in better shape than last year

On Wednesday night, Ohio State held media availability after practice for select players and Ryan Day as they do every week. One of the players available was starting right tackle Josh Fryar, who spoke honestly and gave fans a peek behind the curtain. However, this peek behind the curtain was infuriating, insightful, and hopeful all at once. The infuriating part? We were told Josh Fryar wasn't even getting tired in practice last year.

"I used to not get tired in practice last year."

- Josh Fryar

How on earth could an Ohio State football player—no less than starting right tackle Josh Fryar—admit that last year, he wasn’t even getting tired in practice? Ohio State, one of the most storied programs in all of college football, whose fans have defended their honor time and time again from the outside world calling them soft, was running things like a country club?

Fryar’s comments are alarming, to say the least. Ohio State? Not tired in practice? What happened to the relentless work ethic that Woody Hayes, Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer, and many other coaches instilled in players to build this program?

If Josh Fryar, a right tackle who was fighting for his job, wasn’t getting tired, what does that say about the preparation across the board? Were they cruising through practice while teams like Alabama, Georgia, and Michigan were grinding day in and day out like everything depended on it?

And yet, Ohio State fans have stood on their soapboxes defending the team against all accusations of being "soft" or having a "country club" atmosphere. Many fans, including myself, dismissed the whispers and accusations that the Woody Hayes Athletic Center had become relaxed and had lost its edge.

That Mickey Marotti was going easy on the players, or Ryan Day had told him to hold back. But Fryar, in his shocking honesty, now confirms what we were so vehemently denying—Ohio State was not practicing like a team ready to fight for championships.

This isn’t some rumor from the dark corners of social media. This isn’t baseless chatter from rival fanbases. This is an Ohio State player—one of our own—admitting that the culture had slipped. How does this happen to a program with national championship aspirations? Were they saving themselves for Saturdays, thinking they could just show up and win?

Fryar admits he is now “out of breath every single play” this season in practice as the coaching staff pushes the players to their absolute limits. What a complete turnaround from last year! The difference in effort and intensity is night and day, and thank goodness for it.

But what was going on before? Who allowed this to happen? Were we really that close to beating Georgia in 2022 and Michigan last season, only to find out now that the team wasn't pushing themselves in practice?

This realization stings, no question. But perhaps we can take some solace in knowing that things are different this year. The difference? Head coach Ryan Day is no longer just playing the role of quarterback coach and offensive play-caller. No, this year, he’s stepping up and acting like the CEO this program desperately needs him to be.

When Day arrived, there was excitement about his offensive genius, especially his ability to develop quarterbacks. But that’s not enough to lead a program like Ohio State. The top programs in the country have head coaches who are hands-on with every unit, every player, and every moment of practice. According to Fryar and other players, that’s exactly what’s happening now. Day is engaged with every aspect of the team, pushing them harder than ever, and the results are already showing on the field.

Gone are the days when Ohio State could be accused of being soft. Players are raving about the difference. Fryar mentioned that the level of competition, the intensity, and the grind have all been ratcheted up this season. Practices are now leaving players exhausted, tested, and prepared. There’s no denying the fact that this season feels different.

This transformation didn’t happen by accident. It’s clear that Ryan Day realized something had to change. Maybe it was the sting of back-to-back-to-back losses to Michigan. Maybe it was nearly toppling Georgia in the College Football Playoff only to fall short. Or perhaps it was the harsh criticism from media and fans alike, questioning his team's toughness. Whatever it was, the shift is palpable, and the players are responding.

Fryar’s words paint a vivid picture: “Last year, I wasn’t getting tired in practice... This year, I’m out of breath every single play.” That’s the difference. That’s the Ohio State we know and love—a team that pushes harder, fights tougher, and refuses to settle for anything less than excellence.

And it’s not just Fryar. The entire team has bought into this new approach, embracing the grind like never before. Players are no longer resting on their laurels or relying on natural talent to carry them through. This team is putting in the work—the hard, relentless, sweat-dripping work that will make them battle-hardened by the time they hit the field on Saturdays.

Ohio State fans can breathe a sigh of relief. The days of a "country club" atmosphere are gone. The Buckeyes are back to grinding like the championship contenders we’ve always believed them to be. Josh Fryar's comments, while infuriating at first, now serve as a testament to the growth and resilience of this team.

So yes, it’s hard to hear that last year’s practices lacked intensity. But it’s a relief to know that the Buckeyes have learned from it. Ryan Day has stepped up, and his players are following suit. The grit, the toughness, and the hunger are all back at Ohio State. Buckeye Nation should be thankful—we’re heading into the future with a team ready to push themselves to the brink for a shot at glory.

And for all those who doubted us? For those who called us soft? Get ready. The Ohio State Buckeyes are anything but.