Ryan Day Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day speaks to media following a spring football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center in Columbus on March 22, 2022. Ncaa Football Ohio State Spring Practice

Saturday afternoon’s game against the Maryland Terrapins did not go exactly according to plan for Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes as the team struggled to pull away from Maryland. The team was ineffective running the ball in the first half of the game until it made a huge change, inserting true freshman running back Dallan Hayden into the game.

Hayden took over for Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson, who started the game after missing the previous two games with an injury. Even though he played, he was largely ineffective and could be seen on the sideline in a walking boot once Hayden took over.

In the second half, Hayden was dominant, finishing the game with 27 rushes for 146 yards and three touchdowns to help lead the Buckeyes to victory. Head coach Ryan Day praised him after the game.

“He really got us into a rhythm. I thought he was hitting the holes hard,” Day said, according to Chase Brown of Eleven Warriors. “This was big. For him to get this game under his belt will build confidence for him moving forward.”

[Chase Brown]