While Billy Price's football career might be over, he's never cherished life more than he has this past year.
The former Ohio State center and 2017 Rimington Trophy winner underwent emergency surgery due to a pulmonary embolism in 2024, a deeply emotional experience that ultimately ended his football career. Price recounted those days in an interview at his Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame induction on Friday.
"I got checked out of the hospital after having surgery and held my son and just cried," Price said. "It's so much bigger than the sport itself. But definitely terrifying. Again, not every day is promised. It's not just a saying, it's true."
Price still has great pride in playing for the Buckeyes, even as he lives in Texas now. He already tells his young children that they'll be going to school at Ohio State when they grow up. In terms of his favorite memory from college football, his immediate answer was beating Alabama in the 2014 College Football Playoff semifinals at the Sugar Bowl.
“I live down in Dallas, Texas now and everybody talks about the SEC and the South football, 'it's a different brand,'” Price said. “And for us to go down there at the pinnacle of what Nick Saban and that program – I mean seriously, call it a franchise. They were winning constantly and playing their brand of football. I think that's huge. Again, we talk about playing our brand. Good teams play their brand of football when it comes down to it. They control the line of scrimmage, good decisions, and that was a checkmark in all of those. Definitely a statement game.”
Price also loves being part of Ohio State's line of great centers, being one of four Buckeyes to win the Rimington Trophy as the best center in the country alongside LeCharles Bentley, Pat Elflein and Seth McLaughlin. He expects Carson Hinzman to keep holding down the fort this season.
"You're the guy (when you're at center)," Price said. "Everybody's looking at you. Everybody needs to make sure you know the plays, you know what's going on, you set the demeanor, you set the tone. And so that's just a lot of respect and a lot of great pride out of that. So, Carson, keep on keeping on. Would love to see you win the next one."
Price also broke down what it means to be inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame, how he reflects on his football career and what it's meant to him to be a Buckeye. View Price's full conversation with Eleven Warriors and Buckeye Sports Bulletin in the video at the top of the page.
Price was one of 10 Ohio State greats inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night along with Bianca Alvarez (diving), Katarzyna Dabrowa (fencing), Veronica Jatsek (track and field), Myles Martin (wrestling), Mary Olsen (gymnastics), Kim Reeder (softball), Blaz Rola (tennis), Jack Varga (rifle) and Alex Wimmers (baseball). They will also be honored during Ohio State’s football game against Minnesota on Saturday night.
