Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has confirmed that true freshman running back Legend Bey will handle kickoff return duties in his Buckeyes debut against Ball State, giving the speedy playmaker an early opportunity to make an impact on special teams. Alongside naming Bey as the starting kick returner, Day also identified Brandon Inniss as Ohio State’s primary punt returner, with senior Devin McCuin and sophomore Phillip Bell rounding out the punt return trio as first-time collegiate returners.
Day made clear that ball security is the top priority for Bey in the return game, emphasizing that once the ball is in his hands at the end of a play, holding onto it is non-negotiable — with the expectation that his training and natural instincts take over from there.
Legend Bey’s Path to Earning a Role on Special Teams
Bey’s route to a kick return role wasn’t without an early hiccup. The former North Forney (Texas) standout — renowned for a blazing 4.33-second 40-yard dash and a 10.23-second 100-meter dash — had his start to fall camp delayed after a two-day suspension for a violation of team rules. Despite that setback, Day praised how Bey responded, saying the freshman controlled his own destiny and used the rest of fall camp to showcase his explosive ability. While Bey is still developing at the running back position after playing quarterback in high school, his combination of speed and playmaking upside made him a natural fit to help boost Ohio State’s return game.
Bey wasn’t the only name in the mix for return duties throughout the offseason — coaches had also worked players like Jeremiah Smith, Inniss, De’Zie Jones, Chris Henry Jr., and Bell into punt-return reps during spring practice as the staff searched for its best options in the return game.
Arthur Smith Set to Call Plays From the Field for First Time at Ohio State
In addition to the return game news, Ryan Day confirmed that first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will call plays from the sideline rather than the coaches’ box for his Ohio State debut. Smith, who brings 17 years of NFL coaching experience to Columbus — including stints as offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers, along with three seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons — takes over Ohio State’s offense after Brian Hartline departed to become head coach at South Florida.
Who Is Arthur Smith? Ohio State’s New Offensive Coordinator, Explained
Smith was hired by Ryan Day in January 2026, becoming the second former NFL head coach Day has brought in to run his offense in a three-year span, following Chip Kelly’s stint as offensive coordinator during Ohio State’s 2024 national championship run. Smith spent his most recent two seasons as offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he helped the team capture the AFC North title in 2025 and guided quarterback Aaron Rodgers to his best completion percentage and fewest interceptions in five years. Before Pittsburgh, Smith served as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021 to 2023, compiling a 21-30 record, and built his coaching reputation as offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans, where he helped engineer Derrick Henry’s historic 2,027-yard rushing season in 2020.
Smith’s college coaching background, meanwhile, is limited — his last college coaching stop came in 2010 as a defensive intern at Ole Miss, and he played college football as an offensive lineman at North Carolina from 2001 to 2005.
What Arthur Smith’s Play-Calling Style Means for Ohio State’s Offense
Given his track record with run-heavy, physical offenses in Tennessee and Atlanta, some analysts — including ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit — have wondered how much Smith will lean on the ground game at Ohio State despite inheriting a passing attack built around Heisman-caliber quarterback Julian Sayin and star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Sayin threw for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns during the 2025 regular season, giving Smith a clear dual-threat foundation to work with as he installs his new offensive system.
Early returns from fall camp have been encouraging. Players like safety Jaylen McClain have noted that Ohio State’s offense now has more ways to create and set up plays under Smith’s design, and Smith himself has spoken positively about the progress made from spring practice through the start of fall camp, crediting the competition and depth across the roster.
Why Legend Bey and Arthur Smith’s Debuts Matter for Ohio State’s Season Opener
Between Bey’s first extended look on special teams and Smith calling plays from the field for the first time in a Buckeyes uniform, Ohio State’s season opener against Ball State offers fans an early look at two significant storylines shaping the 2026 season. With Ohio State entering the year as the preseason No. 1 team in the country, how quickly Bey and Smith’s new wrinkles translate to the field could offer meaningful clues about the team’s ceiling heading into a brutal upcoming schedule.
Discover more from Allsportsreports
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
