Ryan Day consistently positions Ohio State as a contender for the National Championship each year. Besides his responsibilities as head coach, he also keeps a close eye on his son RJ Day’s high school journey, as the quarterback is part of the 2027 recruiting class.
RJ Day’s Recruiting Outlook and High School Success
Day made an appearance on the “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward” podcast on Wednesday, where he discussed his approach to coaching RJ. Day spoke on whether he takes a hands-on role or leaves the guidance primarily to RJ’s high school coaches.
“Very hands-on,” Ryan said (42:18). “As time goes by, more hands-on. I will say this, just being a dad, it’s like I always kind of said, ‘I’m just going to be hands off. I’m going to let it.’ But the truth is, if you don’t advocate for your son, I’m not sure anyone’s going to. So, there are a lot of crazy parents out there, but if you don’t get in the middle of it, like your kid’s going to get the raw run of the deal. So, you’ve got to get in the mix sometimes. That’s just in general.”
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“That’s not the problem at high school, but he’s doing great. It’s been a great experience. Probably the coolest thing about being a college coach is that he gets to be a part of what you do. If you’re an insurance agent, you’re not having your son come through Woody every day. I mean, he’s here right now, you know, getting a lift in or something, going to games, being a part of it, and then me being a part of his experience and watching him play has been great.”
RJ Day is one of the top quarterbacks in the Midwest and attends St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio. He is an unranked prospect in the 2027 class according to 247Sports, though he is widely considered a notable name in the state’s recruiting landscape.
According to his X account, RJ excelled offensively in his sophomore season in 2025, amassing 2,901 total yards and 12 touchdowns. He shattered multiple school passing records for career, season, and single-game performance during his first two years at DeSales.
Day threw for 125 yards in a Division II, Region 7 playoff loss to Massillon on Nov. 7. His sophomore season earned him all-district honors and a second-team all-state nod in Division II. Heading into his junior year, RJ has already recorded 4,710 passing yards and 44 touchdowns.
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Recruiting continues to heat up for RJ, and he recently received an offer from a familiar face. Former Ohio State offensive coordinator and current USF head coach Brian Hartline extended a scholarship to RJ for the Bulls on Tuesday.
The younger Day also holds offers from Purdue, Miami (Ohio), Boston College, Cincinnati, and Syracuse, among others. He doesn’t have a clear leader in his recruitment and hasn’t yet trimmed his list of top schools.
