Tyler Bowen’s comments on Ohio State’s offensive line on Tuesday echoed what Ryan Day said about the offensive line on Monday.
Bowen likes the depth he has in his position group entering his first year as Ohio State’s offensive line coach, but he isn’t ready to name any starters yet. While he says the Buckeyes need to hone in on their starting offensive linemen soon, with the season opener against Texas just 18 days, he said nothing was set in stone as of Tuesday as he looks for Ohio State’s top offensive linemen to prove they’ve ready to play at an “elite level.”
Ohio State’s top seven offensive linemen – offensive tackles Austin Siereveld, Phillip Daniels and Ethan Onianwa, guards Luke Montgomery and Tegra Tshabola and centers Carson Hinzman and Tegra Tshabola – also met with the media on Tuesday. The many topics discussed during their interview sessions included Siereveld’s rise as Ohio State’s likely starting left tackle, the ongoing competition between Daniels and Onianwa at right tackle and Hinzman’s excitement to talk trash to his close friend Hero Kanu when the former Ohio State defensive tackle returns to Columbus as a Longhorn on Aug. 30.
We share videos along with some of the best quotes and most notable comments from each of their interview sessions below.
Tyler Bowen
“It’s great to have all this depth, you know, that’s great. There’s depth. There are guys that can play in a game. But what five guys, what six guys, what seven guys are gonna rotate in that game and play at an elite level, at a level that’s Ohio State standard?”– Tyler Bowen on Ohio State’s depth and finding five starters
- Bowen has been impressed with Siereveld all offseason. He said Siereveld’s work ethic and leadership have set the third-year offensive lineman apart from his teammates. “I think just his work ethic, his leadership, those two things. Coming out of the summer and the spring with some of the things he did with Coach Mick in the weight room… You can see that showing up on the field.”
- Bowen seems pleased with Onianwa’s physical development this offseason. However, he wants to see the Rice transfer continue to develop mentally and technically. “We just gotta continue getting him better technically, good understanding, playing with his eyes, and that could go for all the guys,” Bowen said.
- When asked where Daniels has made “the biggest leap” this offseason, Bowen said, “I think just acclimating to the culture. That’s a big deal for any guy that’s coming into this program, whether that’s a freshman or a transfer. You see some more flexibility. I think he worked diligently on his hip and ankle flexibility, which was a big point of focus. … He’s done some nice things at times.”
- While Ohio State’s middle three offensive lineman spots seem set with Montgomery, Hinzman and Tshabola, Bowen declined to name starters at any of those positions: “I wouldn’t say anything is set yet. It’s all still a work in progress.”
Carson Hinzman
“We can be such a good group. We can be a group that’s one of the best (in the nation). I feel like, tight-knit-wise, I’ve been a part of that before. I think just to put all those pieces together and bring leadership, not only from me, but from a few other guys in the O-line group, it will be really special.”– Carson Hinzman on Ohio State’s potential at offensive line
- Hinzman on his mindset entering his fourth season at Ohio State: “I’ve been blessed. I’ve been blessed with a lot of adversity coming into Ohio State and this year, especially, you know, it’s been different. I think the day (last year’s seniors) went out, you kind of realized, like, it’s a new season, new guys, new journey together.”
- Hinzman described himself as “green behind my ears” when he started at center for Ohio State two years ago. Following a season in which he replaced Rimington Trophy winner Seth McLaughlin for the Buckeyes’ national championship run, Hinzman said he’s “really learned a lot about myself and my playing ability, a lot about where I can go and how much growth I still have yet.”
- Hinzman said he and former Ohio State/current Texas defensive tackle Hero Kanu were roommates for two years. Before facing off against Kanu in the season opener, Hinzman said he’s learning to trash talk in German. One word he plans to call Kanu is “pummelig,” which means “chubby” in German.
Austin Siereveld
“Whatever I need, he’s always there. I ask him questions every day. After practice, he’s helping me. In practice, he’s always coaching me up and just trying to make me the best player I can be.”– Austin Siereveld on Tyler Bowen
- Siereveld says his leadership has been his biggest area of growth this offseason. “I’m sort of a quiet guy, but this year, I really need to step up. This summer, I really stepped up to be more of a vocal leader.”
- At this time a year ago, Siereveld wouldn’t have guessed he’d be playing any tackle position, let alone be in line to be the starting left tackle. He thought he’d still be playing guard.
- Asked if he has a preferred position, Siereveld said, “Wherever they have me, that’s where I feel most comfortable.”
Phillip Daniels
“I know the plays now, so everything’s just clicking. Once I know the plays, I feel like I can kill anybody.”– Phillip Daniels on how he’s improved in preseason camp
- Daniels said his goal is to “be the best right tackle in the nation.”
- Daniels said he knew he belonged at Ohio State when he got praise from Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau during the team’s playoff practices. “If I’m getting praise from them, and they’re some of the best pass rushers, and I’m going against Tyleik (Williams) and all of them – if they tell me I’m good, I’m going to be good then.”
- On Caden Curry: “You can think you clamp him, and then he’s going to do something crazy, so you always got to be on your toes.”
- Daniels said Kenyatta Jackson Jr. is “a problem in the pass rush game.”
- On C.J. Hicks: “His speed, his twitch and his get-off, he’s kind of like a mini Abdul Carter.”
- On the difference between the pass-rushers at Ohio State vs. Minnesota: “It’s been really good because Minnesota, we didn’t really have pass-rushers. We had Jah Joyner. He was actually really good. But we just had a bunch of run stoppers that then transitioned to pass.”
Luke Montgomery
“I just want to put people in the dirt and have fun. I'm looking to take out ribs and I'm looking just to put people in the dirt every single play.”– Luke Montgomery on what he wants to accomplish this year
- It’s been strange for Montgomery not playing with Josh Simmons, Josh Fryar, Seth McLaughlin and Donovan Jackson, but he’s embracing a leadership position. “That's been pretty weird because those are the guys that have really helped me in my years, growing and just getting better and developing. And obviously, when you step into a role as a leadership standpoint, I don't think it hits you instantly. But as camp has gone on, it's really hit me and it's been pretty cool to just be able to help the young guys out like they did to me.”
- On how he felt entering his first major action before the College Football Playoff: “If I'm being honest with you, I was just pretty pissed off that I didn't get a chance before. So I just was kind of like, here's what I'm gonna do. Here's how I'm gonna play. And we're gonna go from here.”
- On the defensive line: “They've done great. I think from a leadership standpoint, I think KJ (Kenyatta Jackson Jr.) and Caden Curry have done a tremendous job and the interior guys are grinding ... Tywone (Malone) and Will (Smith Jr.), Eddrick (Houston), those guys have done great jobs and obviously K-Mac (Kayden McDonald)’s done great too.”
Tegra Tshabola
“I've got a lot of plays under my belt now, and I'm just a lot more comfortable. I'm asking pretty good questions with coaches. I'm working with all four of our coaches.”– Tegra Tshabola on how he feels different this year
- Tshabola, like the rest of the offensive line, has been cross-training at different positions. “We're preparing everybody to be able to play everywhere that's needed. I mean, that's something we had to do last year to win the national championship. So we're doing the exact same thing.”
- On where he’s focused on growing the most: “In critical moments, just making sure you lock back into the simple basics, the simple techniques and just the things you work on every day. We read a book called ‘Chop Wood, Carry Water,’ and that whole book is all about doing the mundane things every single day and doing them perfectly.”
- Tshabola said strength and conditioning coach Mick Marotti has continually put the players in the most physically and mentally challenging environments possible to facilitate growth. “That's why some people that aren't in this building, they see guys pop up out of nowhere, and they're superstars. But those things do not happen out of nowhere, and a lot of those things are a credit to Coach Mick.”
Ethan Onianwa
“Honestly, it’s been really great. We had a really good summer. It’s just kind of helped me bond with my teammates, and I’m really enjoying every second of it. It’s hard work, but it’s great work.”– Ethan Onianwa on acclimating to Ohio State
- Onianwa has taken reps at both guard spots and both tackle spots during preseason camp. He called it a “new experience” that will help him in the future, “because you never know how the season’s going to progress.” He said, “I’ve been playing guard, I’ve been playing tackle on both sides, and it’s just a learning experience, and I’m enjoying it.”
- Onianwa praised strength coach Mick Marotti and Ohio State’s nutrition staff for helping him develop physically this offseason. “That’s all thanks to Coach Mick, the strength staff, my position coaches, the nutrition staff — they’ve all kind of pitched in different ways and helped me develop and enjoy this whole process.”
- When asked where he thinks he’ll play this season, Onianwa said reporters should direct those kinds of questions to Bowen and Ryan Day. “I’ll play wherever they want me at, so I’m just going to keep on cross-training, keep on working and we’ll see.”
Joshua Padilla
“I feel like I'm great. I feel like I've definitely improved from the past two years. I feel like I'm comfortable. I can ID the fronts. I feel like I've seen every single front.”– Joshua Padilla on his comfort commanding the offensive line if needed
- On preparing to be the backup center: “I think it's just about every day you're going out there and executing. Just playing as hard as you can. Going out there and showing great effort.”
- Padilla said he and Hinzman are constantly learning from each other. “I feel like me and him both just piggyback off each other. We see something, we'll definitely tell each other, hey, I think I see this. And then he’ll be like, hey, I think I see that. And it goes back and forth.”
- On what he’s seen from Austin Siereveld: “My freshman year being with Austin, I feel like Austin was just a quiet dude, like a guy who like stayed in his own lane, did his things, did everything right. ’Til now, Austin's a great leader. He's making sure everything's right, putting guys in check and going out there balling, playing every single position like on the O-line that our coach asks for.”
