COLUMBUS, Ohio — Safety for football players has always been a top priority, but in the last decade the science behind helmets has changed to prevent more head injuries.

And Ohio State football is at the forefront of that technology.

Inside the equipment room at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center is everything you’d need to keep a football program running.

Kevin Ries finds a guardian cap in the equipment room at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

And Kevin Ries knows that better than most. It's his 13th year as the Ohio State director of football equipment.

“The most important aspect of our job as equipment managers is guarantee the protection and safety of the athletes," Ries said. "Nothing more important than the helmet.”

And the helmets the Buckeyes wear in practice and on game days have a lot of thought behind them.

“We want the athletes to be comfortable, but we want to make sure we’ve given them options, but the best options that are out there," he said.

From the several types of helmets players get to choose from, they then get personalized to the player's position and to the player's head.

Ries shows a scan of a player's head for a custom helmet. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“Where you’re getting the most impact might affect which helmet you feel most comfortable wearing," Ries said.

Another way Ohio State is protecting players is by mandating guardian caps during practice.

Nearly all players have to wear guardian caps during practice. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“When you think of the amount of contacts that happen throughout the week, 80-90% of that is in practice," Ries said.

And once that helmet is a perfect fit for each player, it’s time for the fun part.

“Now the we’ve got you sized and fit for a helmet now we can come over to the build area," Ries said. "So this is kind of our workshop.”

Choosing face masks, visors and anything else to make the helmet just right. Another addition this year is the coach-to-player communication.

Despite all the changes in recent years, Ries said it’s important to keep the players safe.

Ries puts a helmet back on the shelf. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

“A lot of factors come into the head health safety whether it’s being in the best helmet, adding a guardian cap and really just the way that you practice and the amount of hits and the types of drills that you’re doing," he said.

While guardian caps are required in practice, except for quarterbacks and kickers, they are not for games. But they are an option for players if they want to wear one during a game, complete with a cover to look as close to the Buckeye helmet as possible.