Ryan Day is no stranger to the recruiting process and what it takes for a visit to go well when a school brings top prospects on for an official or unofficial visit.
However, he's one of the few coaches in the landscape now who's experienced it both as a coach and as a parent visiting with their kid.
Day's son RJ is a three-star quarterback prospect who just finished his high school playing career at St. Francis de Sales in Columbus. Long before his senior season began, RJ made his college decision, announcing his commitment to Northwestern on May 10.
Along the way, RJ took numerous visits and saw different campuses across the country with both his parents by his side. It was a process that, while his dad admits, was a little awkward at times,
but it also really opened his eyes.
"It was awkward, to be honest, when you walk through hallways on visits to places like Clemson and South Carolina, you kind of get a double look," Ryan said in an interview with CBS Sports. "I think there's a certain affinity that all coaches have for a coach's kid. We visited Purdue and Barry Odom couldn't have been nicer.
...We visited UCLA and we visited different teams in the conference, and they couldn't have been any greater."
The one school that RJ connected with more than any other was Northwestern.
He picked up an offer from the Wildcats on April 29. Just over a week later, he took an official visit to Chicago, where he announced his commitment to Northwestern.
"Football is something that my son is obsessed with, and to know that his position coach is Jerry Neuheisel, whose dad was a coach, and that his offensive coordinator is Chip Kelly, who coached me and coached with me, that's special," Day continued. "David Braun is the head coach and man in charge; he and RJ hit it off. The institution itself is tremendous, so it was fun to watch him do this."
Day also noted that is son is "obsessed with the process" and the game.
"As a dad, that's all you can ask for."
Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: JSpears@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio State's Ryan Day opens up about son's recruiting journey
