RJ Day, son of Ohio State's head coach Ryan Day, has publicly committed to play football for Northwestern University. The announcement marks a significant divergence from the expected trajectory for a coach's child, positioning Day at a Big Ten rival.
The three-star quarterback secured an offer from Northwestern on April 29 and followed it with an official visit on May 4. He reportedly chose the Wildcats over offers from Purdue and South Florida, programs that had maintained active involvement in his recruitment. This decision arrives after Northwestern extended its offer just last week.
The choice to commit to Northwestern is also colored by a connection to offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Kelly has a history with the Day family, having served as tight ends coach at New Hampshire and in two NFL roles, coinciding with Ryan Day's time there. Kelly was also offensive coordinator when Ryan Day played quarterback at New Hampshire, setting multiple school records.
Read More: RJ Day Commits to Northwestern, Joins Rival Big Ten Team
This move places RJ Day in a situation where his father's team, Ohio State, is on the schedule. Ohio State travels to face Northwestern next season, setting up an immediate, albeit unusual, on-field encounter.
Despite being the son of a prominent college football coach, RJ Day's decision appears to be an independent one. Ohio State, reportedly, did not extend a scholarship offer, a factor attributed to the team's existing depth at the quarterback position. This lack of an offer from his father's program opened avenues for other schools to pursue him. He also held offers from Syracuse and Cincinnati.
RJ Day currently plays at St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio. He stands at 6-foot and weighs 207 pounds. Northwestern's spring roster shows eight quarterbacks, with Michigan State transfer Aidan Chiles projected as a potential senior starter.
Read More: RJ Day picks Northwestern over father's Ohio State team
