When asked last Thursday at Big Ten Media Days who he felt the most improved player was on Ohio State's team, Taylor Decker took a brief moment to ponder his response.
The pause didn't last long, though. It was almost as if Decker knew the player's name he wanted to say instantly, but wanted to hold out to build the suspense.
"I'm buying a lot of stock in Chase Farris right now," Decker said. "Right now, I’d say that he probably had the best offseason of anybody in our program. He had an awesome offseason and I think he’s just developed, not so much physically which he has, but as a leader."
That's pretty high praise from Decker, the elder statesman on Ohio State's offensive line who is a shoe-in to be named a team captain for 2015. Decker is getting ready to enter his third year as a starter on the offensive line and is projected to be a first-round NFL Draft pick following the season.
It also probably shouldn't come as a surprise Decker selected one of his fellow offensive linemen to answer the question. But the fact he did should help ease the minds of some Buckeyes fans who may have been concerned at the right tackle position.
Following the graduation of Darryl Baldwin, last year's starter at the position, right tackle was the only vacant position on Ohio State's offensive line, one which is widely considered one of the best in all of college football.
Farris, a fifth-year senior, emerged as the frontrunner for the job during spring football, where he took the majority of first-team reps. Farris was in competition with sophomore Jamarco Jones.
“It’s not really been too big of an adjustment," Farris said during spring practice. "Even last year, I was taking some of the first-string reps and all of the second-string reps so it feels like I was in there. Now I’m just in a different spot.”
Farris' journey to this point, of course, hasn't been an easy one. He came to Columbus as part of a highly-touted 2011 recruiting class as a defensive lineman. Throughout his first four seasons at Ohio State, the playing time has been minimal.
But this season, his final as a Buckeye, has a bit of a different feel to it for Farris if you ask his teammates.
Decker was pretty adamant in his support for Farris. In fact, he was asked several times throughout his 90-minute media availability who had stood out to him. Every time, he responded with Farris' name.
No pressure or anything, of course.
"People will listen to (Farris), he’s been a great leader this offseason and he’s been awesome," Decker said. "He grinds through everything, you always know what you’re going to get with him and I’m looking forward to him this year.”
