The son of Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day has made his college decision, announcing Sunday via social media that he will play quarterback for Northwestern University beginning in 2027.
R.J. Day, currently a high school senior, selected the Wildcats after considering offers from multiple programs including Purdue, Syracuse, Cincinnati, and South Florida.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound quarterback has been a three-year starter at St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio, where he has established impressive career statistics with 5,714 passing yards and 54 touchdown passes. During his junior season in fall 2025, Day broke single-season school records by throwing for 2,710 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Northwestern’s current roster under head coach David Braun includes eight quarterbacks for the 2026 season, featuring transfer Aiden Chiles from Michigan State and freshman Johnny O’Brien.
When Day arrives at Northwestern, he will work with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who is entering his first year in that role with the Wildcats. Kelly previously served as the offensive coordinator for Ohio State during their 2024 national championship season and also held the same position at New Hampshire when Ryan Day played quarterback there from 1998-2001, setting multiple school records. Kelly has also been a head coach at Oregon, UCLA, and with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.
