Ryan Day’s got to be one proud father right now. His son, RJ Day, just pulled off one of those moments that high school football is all about. It was one of those throws that wins games and gets people talking. With just 22 seconds left on the clock Friday night, the St. Francis DeSales junior quarterback launched a clutch throw that set up the game-winning field goal in a 23-21 victory over Harrison. The Ohio State head coach was so pumped about it that he shared the play on his Instagram story. 

The throw itself was everything you want to see in a pressure situation. With less than half a minute left and the game on the line, RJ didn’t panic. He stepped up and delivered a big-time throw downfield that got the Stallions into field goal range. And then, the kicker did the rest. This wasn’t some garbage-time break. This was a 6-foot-1, 203-pound junior quarterback showing the composure that college coaches drool over. The fact that it happened against a solid Harrison team that came in with a 6-2 record makes it even better.​

The thing about RJ Day is he’s not riding his dad’s name. The kid can flat-out play. He’s already St. Francis DeSales’ all-time leading passer, and he’s only a junior. Through his first two seasons, he’s racked up 2,933 passing yards and 29 touchdowns.

The absurd thing is the fact that he’s got another year left. College programs are starting to take notice, too. He’s sitting on 14 FBS offers right now, including schools like Syracuse, Cincinnati, and Purdue. People who’ve watched him play say his arm strength has improved dramatically. And now, his ball placement in tight windows is getting scary good.​

Apart from the physical tools, what makes RJ special is the mental side of the game. Growing up as the son of one of college football’s top offensive minds has its perks. He’s been around the Ohio State program since his dad became quarterbacks coach back in 2017. And naturally, he soaked up knowledge from guys like Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, C.J. Stroud, and Will Howard.

RJ Day got a front-row seat to Ohio State’s national championship run last season. Now, you can see that big-game experience rubbing off on him. When the moment gets big, he rises, just like he did Friday night against Harrison.​

Ryan Day sharing that throw on his social media says everything about what that moment meant to their family. The Days have been through a lot with the intense scrutiny that comes with being Ohio State’s head coach. But nights like Friday remind you what really matters. RJ’s not thinking about living up to any last name or dealing with recruiting rankings. 

The pressure of being Coach Day’s kid

That clutch throw on Friday night validated everything RJ Day has been working toward while carrying the weight of his last name. And if you think being Ohio State’s head coach’s son makes things easier, Ryan Day will tell you the exact opposite. On a recent Youth Inc podcast, Ryan Day got real about the unique pressure his son faces. 

“He almost feels like he has to work double hard because people think just because he’s my son, he gets certain opportunities,” Ryan Day explained. “But the truth is, he actually has to work twice as hard. And that’s what motivates him.” It’s a perspective that flips the narrative. RJ isn’t coasting on his dad’s reputation. If anything, he’s fighting harder to prove he belongs on his own merit. This makes that game-winning drive against Harrison feel even more significant.

Ryan Day also opened up about the delicate balance of being both a father and an advocate during the recruiting process. “I think that there’s such a balance of if you don’t advocate for your son, nobody’s going to,” he said. “But you also have to let them go and figure stuff out on their own.” That’s the tightrope every parent walks, but imagine doing it when you’re one of the most scrutinized coaches in college football.