Within the halls of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, Ohio State’s starting offensive line is stamped into shape. But Ryan Day isn’t letting the public know whether it’s a triangle, square or pentagon yet.
The Buckeyes are less than two weeks away from facing a ferocious Texas front seven and have a new starting quarterback to keep upright; thus, cards are being kept snug to Day’s vest. But one trend that will continue from Ohio State’s 2024 College Football Playoff national championship run is a plan to rotate on the offensive line.
“We feel like there's five that we're going to go with here, and then I feel like there's two or three other guys that we can put in and rotate,” Day said. “I won’t get into that right now. When we get closer, we’ll see.”
Well, Day did give up the name of one starter under media interrogation, but it’s one that’s been known for a while.
“You guys keep asking the question,” Day said to a huge laugh from the room. “Alright, mercy. Austin (Siereveld) will be at left tackle. But that’s it, you guys aren’t getting any more.”
Day said in the spring that Siereveld will start, said last week that he’s working exclusively at left tackle, and on Sunday, Siereveld was named a team captain after being an Iron Buckeye twice over. He’s one of four players returning to the offensive line room with CFP experience, sliding from guard to tackle this offseason and making one of the biggest surges on the team.
The other three OL returners with CFP experience seem like shoo-ins too, even if Day stays mum. Luke Montgomery is likely to play left guard, Carson Hinzman is a practical lock at center and Tegra Tshabola is back after being last year’s starting right guard.
Competition all offseason has been at right tackle, though the names shifted when Siereveld moved to the left side. Ethan Onianwa seemed destined to start at left tackle when he transferred in as a multi-year starter with NFL hype from Rice, but wound up in a competition with Minnesota transfer Phillip Daniels at right tackle. Someone has won the job based on Day’s comments, and from recent talk praising Daniels as Onianwa works at guard, Daniels might be the fifth man.
The loser between Onianwa and Daniels is still likely to see the field if Ohio State rotates, however. If Onianwa is the top backup, working him at guard is an option – he could give relief where needed at any of four spots. Backup center Joshua Padilla is the next candidate for reps off the bench at either center or guard.
“I think right now we would say that we're probably (at) six or seven guys that we feel comfortable putting in a game on the offensive line,” Day said. “I don't think we've fully decided how many reps everybody will play on the line, but I think you will see a little bit of a rotation. So, like you saw at times during the playoff run, where guys would get in there for 15, 20 snaps, take a little bit off the starter.”
Whether or not the starters are unveiled publicly, the push now is to prepare Ohio State's starting offensive line for Week 1 against the No. 1 team in college football. New starting quarterback Julian Sayin will be banking on it.
“Those guys are grinding. They’re working,” Day said. “I think all three of our O-line coaches are doing a great job. I think there's good leadership there. But they need to play well in this first game, take some pressure off of the quarterback.”
