The 2016 season was filled with highs and lows for Isaiah Prince.
Ohio State’s right tackle had his moments but also had some struggles in his first year as a starter on the Buckeyes’ offensive line. Those struggles mostly came against Ohio State’s top competition throughout the regular-season: Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan.
But Prince is in line to start at right tackle again this fall for the Buckeyes and two of his fellow offensive linemen say they’ve seen significant development from the 6-foot-7, 310-pounder this spring.
“I think you’ll see a lot of growth,” fifth-year senior center Billy Price said. “That first-year transition from Year 1 to 2 in starting, there’s a lot of grown and you’re going to be able to see that.”
Added starting left tackle Jamarco Jones: “He’s having a great spring right now. He’s battling his tail off and we all are. We’re just trying to get better and improve so the mistakes that happened last year don’t happen again this year.”
Ohio State allowed 28 sacks during the 2016 season up from the 19 it allowed in the same number of games in 2015. The Buckeyes also surrendered 28 sacks during their national championship season in 2014 but played two more games that year than they did this previous season.
Obviously, all of those aren’t directly tied to Prince. According to CFB Film Room, Prince allowed seven sacks last season. Michael Jordan, a true freshman guard last year, ranked second on the team with six sacks allowed. Prince’s 24 hurries, however, were far and away the most allowed on the team.
Price, Jones, Jordan and Prince all return as starters from last year’s group, though, and the hope is the opportunity to work together this spring allows the Buckeyes to improve up front.
“There’s a lot more continuity and chemistry on the offensive line now as the guys go from Year 1 to Year 2,” Price said. “I think you’ll be able to see that.”
The line of thinking is rather simple: If each individual offensive lineman improves this spring, the group will become that much better.
Prince was the most maligned of the group last season — by a rather wide margin. His teammates expect that to change after a strong spring and an added sense of maturity.
“I’m very proud of Isaiah and his ability to not let things snowball. When something goes wrong, he doesn’t just let things continue to build and build,” Price said. “As we always call it, [he will] press pause, reset, take it on to the next play and not let things become a meltdown. That’s something that shows Isaiah’s maturity and growth and I’m very proud of Isaiah.”
