COLUMBUS, Ohio –– It may not be the significant rotational time that some have expected to see from him the past couple seasons, but junior Teradja Mitchell has quietly played the fourth-most snaps among Ohio State linebackers this season.

With 76 snaps so far this year, Mitchell has only played less than Ohio State’s three starting linebackers; seniors Tuf Borland (163), Baron Browning (199) and Pete Werner (219).

The moment has not come a second too soon if you ask Ryan Day, and in fact, the Buckeyes’ head coach challenged Mitchell to become even more integral to the group this week.

“It’s getting to that point in his career where he needs to start having an impact on the team and the game,” Day said on his weekly radio show on 97.1 The Fan Wednesday.