Locklyn makes an excellent first impression on running backs

After having the opportunity to provide feedback during Ohio State’s search for a new running backs coach, the Buckeyes’ running backs are pleased with the outcome.

Ryan Day included Ohio State’s running backs in the search process, asking them for feedback on each of the candidates the Buckeyes interviewed as they looked for a new position coach who would be a good fit for the team. The running backs unanimously agreed with Day and Chip Kelly that Carlos Locklyn would be the best person to lead their team moving forward.

“He has a great background,” Dallan Hayden said on Wednesday. “As a whole, we felt like he would be the best guy, and Coach Day knew that.”

Locklyn only arrived at Ohio State for his first session on Wednesday, so the Buckeye running backs are still getting to know him. Locklyn was more of an observer than a coach during Wednesday’s practice as he adjusted to Ohio State and observed how the Buckeyes’ coaching staff works.

Day 1 as a Buckeye ✅ 🔒
@Locklyn33 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/NSL6f8IL8g

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 3, 2024

Nonetheless, he made a good first impression on the three Ohio State running backs who spoke with the media following Wednesday’s practice.

“In this practice alone, really, he just takes people aside, tells them exactly what they need to do right then, right there,” said Caffey. “You can tell he’s a very straightforward man. But he still loves his players and enjoys being a coach.

Some of Ohio State’s running backs had already met Locklyn during the recruiting process. Quinshon Judkins met Locklyn as he was being recruited by Florida State, where he was the director of high school relations in 2020. Judkins said he and Locklyn bonded over their similar heritage of growing up in Montgomery, Alabama.

While Judkins did not attend Florida State and instead began his college career at Ole Miss before transferring to Ohio State this winter, he is pleased to be coached by Locklyn now.

“You can see where he’s coached and who he is as a person; he’s high-energy, intense, and I believe he’s extremely hands-on. So I believe it will be great to work with Coach Locklyn,” Judkins added.

Hayden has also known Locklyn since his youth, as he was a high school coach in Hayden’s hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, until joining the University of Memphis faculty in 2017-19.

“He’s a great ball coach. “Really nice guy,” Hayden stated.

Caffey met Locklyn for the first time this week and is optimistic he will be a good match for the Buckeyes.

“He’s a really good guy,” Caffey explained. “And I’m really just excited to learn from him and see things that he’s gonna instill on us.”

“YOU CAN TELL HE’S A REAL STRAIGHTFORWARD GUY. BUT HE STILL LOVES HIS PLAYERS AND LOVES TO BE A COACH.”–

TC CAFFEY ON NEW OHIO STATE RUNNING BACKS COACH CARLOS LOCKLYN

Because of the peculiar timing of Tony Alford’s resignation, Day made certain to include the running backs in the search for a new position coach. Alford joined the Buckeyes for the first week of spring practice but left for Michigan during the team’s spring break.

Both Hayden and Judkins said it was difficult to learn that Alford would be leaving in the middle of spring practice, but they understood his decision.

“Coach Alford was a big part of why I came to Ohio State, so to see him leave was sad,” Hayden said. “But you know, he has a family to take care of. So I completely understood.”

Judkins said he was “pretty surprised” by Alford’s departure, but it does not diminish his enthusiasm for transferring to Ohio State.

“I knew the current position in collegiate football. Coach Alford needed to do what was best for him. But I’m here at Ohio State not just for everything else, but also for the university itself,” Judkins explained. “So I think just focusing on the bigger picture, and the brotherhood that’s here and what’s important to me, that’s what I was focusing on.”

The upside of not having a running backs coach for a chunk of spring practice was that it allowed the running backs to get more hands-on teaching from Day, who has been instructing the running backs himself for the last three weeks. Judkins believes the running backs have improved since being coached directly by the head coach, who hilariously announced his retirement from the position group on Wednesday.

“He just told us, like, ‘Look, guys, it’s probably my last week with y’all and I’m out,'” Judkins recounted, laughing. “But Coach Day has been fantastic. Coach Day has taught us several schemes and positions, and it was beneficial to have him apply them into our game and show us how he prefers.