Rising senior quarterback R.J. Day, the son of Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, announced his commitment to Northwestern for the 2027 class on Sunday via social media. 
The St. Francis DeSales standout chose the Big Ten Wildcats over offers from Purdue, Syracuse, Cincinnati, and South Florida. A three-year starter, Day owns school career records in passing yards (5,714) and touchdowns (54) at the Columbus, Ohio high school. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound signal-caller also set single-season marks as a junior in fall 2025 with 2,710 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Northwestern’s 2026 roster, under head coach David Braun, currently features eight quarterbacks, including Michigan State transfer Aiden Chiles and freshman Johnny O’Brien. Day will develop under first-year offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who called plays for Ohio State during their 2024 national championship run. Kelly previously served as head coach at Oregon, UCLA, and the Philadelphia Eagles, and was Ryan Day’s offensive coordinator at New Hampshire, where Day set school passing records from 1998-2001.
With this pledge, R.J. Day adds a high-upside arm to Northwestern’s future quarterback room, following in a legacy shaped by his father and his new coach.
