Sources: Ohio State set to work with O’Brien as OC

Pete Thamel, ESPNJan 18, 2024, 09:35 PM ET Ohio State is set to work with previous NFL head coach Bill O’Brien as the school’s brand-new offending coordinator, sources told ESPN on Thursday.The relocation comes

with a potential shift within the OSU program, as coach Ryan Day has actually spent part of this offseason checking out bringing in a knowledgeable organizer who would enable him to quit playcalling tasks, according to sources.O ‘Brien served

as the New England Patriots’ offensive organizer in 2023 and has substantial experience as a playcaller and developer of quarterbacks at the college and NFL level.In O’Brien, Ohio State is getting an offending coach who worked with Bryce Young at Alabama, Tom Brady and Deshaun Watson throughout a few of their best seasons. Young won the Heisman Trophy in 2021 under O’Brien, and Alabama finished in the top 10 in scoring offense in both of O’Brien’s seasons as organizer, averaging 39.9 and 41.1 points per game. Ohio State’s offense dipped this season to 30.5 points per game, down from 44.2 the previous year.Editor’s Picks In O’Brien’s seven years(2014 to 2020)as an NFL head coach, he reached the playoffs four times and led the Texans to a

winning record five times. He was fired after an 0-4 start in 2020 and finished his period there 52-48. O’Brien also brings experience in the Big Ten as a head coach. He took control of for Joe Paterno at Penn State in 2012 and went 15-9 in 2 seasons.

His time there is most kept in mind for being a strong recruiter and steadying existence as Penn State navigated the fallout from Jerry Sandusky’s crimes.Brady won the NFL MVP with O’Brien as quarterbacks coach in 2010. (New England didn’t note an offensive playcaller that year, and O’Brien was formally the offensive planner the following year.)In the wake of three consecutive losses to Michigan and a two-game losing streak to end the 2023 season, Day has started substantial changes to the program. Ohio State chose to not restore a pair of assistant coaches– safeties coach Perry Eliano and unique groups coach Parker Fleming.Since Ohio State’s season ended, the program has actually gotten a flurry of draft-eligible players returning for an additional season and some high-profile additions through the transfer portal, signals

that the school’s collective appears poised to invest significantly.On offense, those players include star wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, tailback TreVeyon Henderson and guard Donovan Jackson, all returning for a fourth season. Heading into last season, all were considered players who ‘d seriously think about the NFL.In the NCAA transfer portal, former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard signed up with the Buckeyes for his last year of eligibility, and two-time All-SEC tailback Quinshon Judkins moved from Ole Miss.Ohio State likewise included Alabama center Seth McLaughlin in the portal.O’Brien is a Brown graduate who began his profession there in 1993. He worked at Georgia Tech, Maryland and Duke before joining the Patriots staff in 2007 as an offensive assistant.