RJ Day is staying in the Big Ten, but he won't be playing for his father, Ryan Day, at Ohio State. The 2027 quarterback prospect officially committed to Northwestern on Sunday morning.

RJ Day announced his commitment on X, writing, “Super excited to announce my commitment to further my football and academic career at Northwestern University!!”

He then thanked everyone who helped him along the way, including his family, Brad Maendler, the DeSales coaching staff, and Jay Hooten at the Armory.

The young quarterback currently plays for St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus. Standing 6 feet, 1 inch tall, he has started for three years and holds his school’s records with 5,714 passing yards and 54 touchdowns. 

He added in his announcement that he chose Northwestern because it offers a great mix of high-level sports and excellent classes. A big reason for his choice is Northwestern’s offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly.

RJ Day told ESPN earlier this month, "It's really surreal when you think about the relationships that we've had with those two as a family over the years... Coach Kelly coached my dad in college, so that adds another layer to it."

Kelly has known the Day family for a long time. He coached Ryan Day, his father, years ago in college, and even worked under him at Ohio State during their 2024 championship season. 

RJ Day had many choices, including offers from schools like Clemson, Kentucky, and Virginia Tech. He cited his relationship with Kelly and Northwestern's academic profile as key factors in his decision.

RJ Sets Records While Carving His Own Path 

Recruiting expert Jeremy Birmingham summed up the RJ's mindset by saying, "I am confident RJ does not want to play at Ohio State. He wants to build his own path."

His performance on the field certainly matches that confidence. He recently set a school record by throwing for 482 yards in a playoff win, which he won with a touchdown pass in the final moments.

His high level of efficiency was on display earlier this season when he completed nearly every pass during a dominant blowout victory. This high level of play has caught the attention of major college teams in the Big Ten. 

As per records by College Football HQ on SI, he is ranked as the 84th-best quarterback in the nation.

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Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Rudra Dubey