The starting right tackle spot at Ohio State has been somewhat of a revolving door over the previous four seasons.
In 2011 it was J.B. Shugarts; 2012 was Reid Fragel. Taylor Decker started there in 2013 and last year it was Darryl Baldwin's spot. It's been a different guy every season who has filled that role for the Buckeyes.
Nothing has changed in 2015, either. Ohio State will have a new starting right tackle when it takes the field Sept. 7 in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech.
It's not necessarily uncommon, Buckeyes offensive line coach Ed Warinner says. The new guy usually gets first shot at right tackle then, if needed, will move over to left tackle.
“You try to solidify your left tackle and have a guy locked in there for at least a couple of years," Warinner said Thursday following Ohio State's fourth spring practice. "The new guy you’re kind of breaking in as the right tackle the way I see it, but it’s just kind of worked out that way.”
The Buckeyes have their left tackle slot solidified this season with Decker. He will be entering his third year as a starter and his second at left tackle. Without question, the 6-foot-8, 315-pounder is the leader of Ohio State's offensive line and will likely be on a handful of preseason All-American lists.
“It’s not us trying to beat each other, it’s just us going out there and grinding hard and trying to prove ourselves and then the best man will always play.”– Chase Farris
The Buckeyes seem to have their interior positions shored up, too. Pat Elflein is slated to start at right guard, Jacoby Boren will be the guy at center and at left guard will be Billy Price. All three started last year for Ohio State at those same positions.
The lone spot that isn't set in stone yet — as it has seemed to be the case in previous years — is right tackle. And right now, after just four spring practices, it appears it's a two-man battle between fifth-year senior Chase Farris and sophomore Jamarco Jones.
“It’s not really been competitive as far as I have to do this and he has to do that," Farris said Thursday. "It’s not us trying to beat each other, it’s just us going out there and grinding hard and trying to prove ourselves and then the best man will always play.”
Currently, Farris is taking all of the first-team reps at right tackle. Decker is being limited in spring practice contract drills as part of head coach Urban Meyer's 2,000-rep club, so the first-team reps at left tackle have been going to Jones.
Right now, each is getting snaps at a different position, but when fall camp rolls around there will only be room for one slot on the first team. At the moment, Decker said he believes Farris is the frontrunner for that starting right tackle spot.
“I’ve been really impressed with Chase. He had a great offseason, I thought," Decker said. "He knows he’s got a big opportunity and I think he’s going to do everything he can to seize it.”
To Farris, though, the competition is far from over.
“I’m not going to say it’s mine to lose, but I’m just going out there and competing every day," Farris said. "Just trying to solidify myself.”
A lot can change between now and the time fall camp rolls around. Just because a player is getting first-team reps in March doesn't mean he will still be receiving them come August.
Farris is the more experienced of the two, but Jones was a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school. It's going to be an exciting battle — one of many at Ohio State — to see who earns the starting nod.
"He was ready to be a starter towards the middle, end of last year," Warinner said of Farris. "And if he keeps doing what he's doing, he'll be able to take that position over, but Jamarco Jones is not by any means going to let him have it."
