Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown has recovered after injuring his left ankle in the Buckeyes’ loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl in late December, coach Ryan Day said.

Six weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain, Brown is participating in strength and conditioning workouts with the rest of the Buckeyes, putting him on track to be available for spring practice.

“He’s rehabbed well,” Day said, “and I’m excited to see him this spring.”

Brown went down late in the first quarter in the bowl game as he was sacked, a setback that cut short his first start for the Buckeyes.

The transfer of Kyle McCord to Syracuse earlier in the month had put Brown, a redshirt freshman who previously pushed McCord for the top spot on the depth chart, in position to start.

If Brown is to make another run at the starting job this offseason, he will need to beat out a bevy of passers.

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The Buckeyes have five scholarship quarterbacks on the roster after adding transfers Will Howard from Kansas State and Julian Sayin from Alabama.

“It’s going to be a fierce competition this spring,” Day said, “but there’s already camaraderie in that room.”

Howard has the most starting experience among the group, having made 27 at Kansas State before transferring to Ohio State for his final year of eligibility.

Day, though, acknowledged Brown, who enrolled two years ago, is the Buckeyes’ most experienced returning passer.

“Devin really has the most experience out of that group coming back,” Day said, “and he’s shown really good leadership even coming off the last one being a little disappointing and being injured.”

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch and can be reached at jkaufman@dispatch.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ryan Day: Ohio State QB Devin Brown recovered from ankle injury