Ryan Day is leaving nothing to likelihood for the 2026 season. After a troublesome 14-24 loss to Miami and shedding their championship dream, Day is ensuring their 2026 squad has no holes. That’s precisely why he obtained one other explosive kicker for the 2026 season: Cooper Peterson. Now, doubling down on his dedication to the Bucks, Peterson appeared slightly emotional in a message on social media.
“I’m blessed to announce my dedication to play soccer and proceed my educational profession at The Ohio State College,” Ohio State commit kicker Cooper Peterson stated on X. “I wish to thank God for blessing me with this superb alternative to play soccer at Ohio State.”
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“I wish to thank Coach Daniels, Coach Keys, and Coach Day for giving me this superb alternative to play soccer at a tremendous program. Thanks to my household for making every part attainable, and with out their help, I wouldn’t be within the place I’m proper now,” he added.
Apart from Texas A&M, who’ve witnessed and addressed its kicking inconsistencies in 2025, Ohio State’s kicking place has created main hassle for them final season, too. Their kicker, Jayden Fielding, missed a brief, essential 27-yard discipline aim in opposition to Indiana, which may have tied the sport, changing into a defining second for the Bucks. That’s precisely why they introduced in two kickers this offseason. Ryan Day obtained Connor Hawkins from Baylor and now Peterson for the 2026 class.
Peterson performs highschool soccer at Corvian Group College in Charlotte, North Carolina. There, he delivered a convincing efficiency within the 2025 season, going 8 of 9 on discipline objectives with a career-long kick of 49 yards. Past discipline objectives, his experience extends to kickoffs and punts, too. He recorded 57 touchdowns on 68 kickoffs, limiting opponent returns whereas dealing with punting duties for Corvian, averaging 47.3 yards per punt.
Having attended the Ohio State recreation within the 2025 season in Week 3 and the 2024 season for the Iowa recreation, Peterson developed a powerful bond with Ryan Day. However the head coach is just not the one one on the employees who shares a bond with the participant. That circle additionally contains particular groups coordinator and inside WR coach Parker Fleming. Peterson, in the meantime, had a proposal for a transfer to Michigan State, however he in the end made his transfer to Ohio State.
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One of the best half is that Peterson is consistently growing. He emphasizes that he has centered closely on extending his vary over the previous 12 months and sees long-distance kicking as his power.
“I’d say I’m in all probability good from 55 to 60 yards,” Peterson advised Bucknuts again in September. “My coach is completely happy to ship me on the market for longer discipline objectives; in observe, we try it from 60 on a regular basis. As I’ve gotten within the fitness center extra and gotten stronger, every part has simply progressed.”
Now, if Peterson retains constructing on that momentum, he may get the beginning position before anticipated. Nonetheless, with that success, troubles hold hitting Ryan Day, with a former participant elevating doubts in regards to the Buckeyes’ head coach.
Former Ohio State participant questions Ryan Day
Former Ohio State linebacker Steele Chambers overtly questions Ryan Day’s playcalling after their late-season struggles within the 2025 season. Chambers shares his ideas after Day steps in to name performs himself after Brian Hartline left for a head teaching job at South Florida.
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The struggles have been seen within the ultimate two video games, as Chambers made his opinion clear on the Buckeye Backers.
“In fact, I’m not an offensive coordinator,” Chambers stated. “I don’t know the best way to name a recreation, however I really feel like there are some occasions the place Coach Day’s somewhat on his heels so far as play-calling.”
The priority is sensible. Ohio State was aggressive in opposition to Michigan, taking a number of photographs downfield on first and second downs below Hartline. However Chambers, a former Detroit Lions free agent, couldn’t see the identical aggressive play-calling from Ryan Day.
They scored simply 14 factors in opposition to Miami and failed to maneuver the ball or rating touchdowns simply in opposition to the Hurricanes’ bodily protection. The Hurricanes’ bodily protection dominated from the get-go. They pressured a 72-yard pick-six on Julian Sayin, with star QB Carson Beck doing the remainder to seize the victory.
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So, if Ryan Day and his staff actually wish to get their championship standing again, the offense must get stronger.
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