If there's one thing that's certain at Ohio State, it's that as long as Ed Warinner is offensive line coach, Buckeye fans can rest easy when it comes to the big boys up front.
All three years Warinner's been in Columbus, the Buckeyes have ranked in the top-10 in rushing — 242.3 yards per game in 2012 (10th in the country), 308.6 yards per game in 2013 (fifth) and 264.5 yards per game last season (ninth).
Production like that comes as a result of stellar ballcarriers like Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, Carlos Hyde, Ezekiel Elliott and others, but those guys aren't much without the big uglies paving the way for them.
Fresh off of winning the first ever National Championship in the College Football Playoff era, Warinner enters spring camp with certainty at 80 percent on the offensive line. It's a luxury he hasn't often had at Ohio State, having to replace four starters prior to last season and mold Reid Fragel and others into worthy contributors the year before.
Warinner — and by extension, his unit — pride themselves on continuity regardless who's on the field, especially if a starter goes down with an injury. That was evident on New Year's Day, when Jacoby Boren was replaced by Pat Elflein in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama after getting hurt. The Buckeyes scored on the very next play.
While Warinner has four solid guys returning up front, he's still got to fill the void at right tackle left by Darryl Baldwin and — just like the rest of the team — shirk the imminent voice of complacency that is going to try and derail Ohio State after its title run.
"The culture here is established, we just have to add to it," Meyer said March 10. "Not change it."
That isn't more true than on the offensive line, where a big question isn't who will get starting nods, but instead who will step in if and when they are needed.
LEFT TACKLE
Projected Starter: Senior Taylor Decker, 6-foot-7, 315 pounds
Projected Backup: Sophomore Jamarco Jones, 6-foot-4, 306 pounds
The starter at left tackle is pretty simple, seeing as how Decker's been part of Ohio State's first five since his sophomore season in 2013. Jones worked his way into the mix by season's end, earning high praise from not only Warinner but also his teammates. It appears he'll push for playing time again this spring.
"There’s Jamarco, who’s a younger guy. But he has the potential and he’s incredibly talented. I just think that he needs to figure out how to practice," Decker said March 10. "He has streaks and he’ll show you flashes, but I think the consistency is a big thing for him.”
LEFT GUARD
Projected Starter: Redshirt sophomore Billy Price, 6-foot-4, 312 pounds
Projected Backup: Redshirt freshman Demetrius Knox, 6-foot-3, 308 pounds
Price all but has this starting spot locked up for 2015 after the way he improved last year, going from inconsistent against Virginia Tech to a stud by season's end. He's the strongest guy on the team and figures to further blossom under the tutelage of Warinner.
Knox was mentioned by Meyer as early as September last season as someone who was making the push for playing time, but we never saw what he could do.
"Demetrius Knox is getting close too," Meyer said then. "We're going to be pushing as hard as we can."
There's no doubt that will continue this spring.
CENTER
Projected Starter: Senior Jacoby Boren, 6-foot-1, 285 pounds
Projected Backup: Redshirt junior Pat Elflein, 6-foot-3, 300 pounds
Elflein stepped in when Boren went down against the Crimson Tide, delivering a perfect snap to Cardale Jones and finishing his block so Elliott could score a touchdown. They're both back and Elflein is set to start at right guard, but if Boren has to miss time with a slew of injuries that plagued him last season — mainly a high ankle sprain — expect him to be prepared to step in and things to keep right on rolling.
RIGHT GUARD
Projected Starter: Elflein
Projected Backup: Redshirt freshman Marcelys Jones, 6-foot-4, 325 pounds
Prior to last season, Elflein was the lone returning player on the offensive line other than Decker who had a start to his name. That came in the 2013 Big Ten Championship Game against Michigan State, when he filled in for suspended Marcus Hall. Elflein put a stranglehold on the starting right guard spot last season, but also showed his versatility by playing the other guard spot and some center. If he can stay healthy, he should start every game in 2015.
Marcelys Jones is someone Decker singled out as a young guy who could make some noise in the offensive line room this spring. However, whether or not that happens is completely on him.
"I think Marcelys Jones is probably the best athlete in our room. He’s an unbelievable athlete," Decker said. "That kid can run, he can cut, he’s fast. It’s just a matter of him getting down the playbook and making a conscious decision to want to learn that and to want to be able to play."
RIGHT TACKLE
Projected Starter: Senior Chase Farris, 6-foot-5, 300 pounds
Projected Backup: Jamarco Jones
Farris ran with the first team offense in the early stages of spring drills two weeks ago, so it makes sense that he has the early lead at the spot as a senior.
"He had an amazing off-season. I’ve always loved the way he works, I’ve always been a big fan of his and he’s one of my friends so I’m really excited to see him get a shot at that spot," Decker said of Farris.
While he was running with the ones on the first day of spring drills, no one was wearing any shoulder pads. So while Farris was there that day, it could change this week.
"If he wins it, he’ll definitely be deserving," Decker said.
Warinner and "select offensive linemen" are due to speak to the media Thursday. The offensive line coach is typically pretty up front about things when it comes to his unit, but its doubtful he and Meyer will be ready to name a starter at right tackle before the end of spring practice.
This is also a big spring for guys like Evan Lisle, a big kid from Centerville, Ohio, who is entering his third year in the program after redshirting in 2013. It is time for him to make an impact, as well as the six offensive linemen in the 2015 recruiting class. Five of those guys can play offensive tackle and Grant Schmidt has already enrolled at Ohio State. All that fresh blood is sure to ramp up the competition at right tackle.
