Better Know A Buckeye is our look at every member of Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class and how they became Buckeyes as they prepare to begin their OSU careers this fall.
Austin Siereveld grew up planning his Saturdays in the fall around watching Ohio State games. Now, he'll suit up for the Buckeyes himself.
One of seven players from Ohio in the Buckeyes’ 2023 class, Siereveld (ranked as the No. 15 interior offensive lineman and No. 298 overall prospect in the cycle) is one of three in-state linemen to stay home in the class, joining Luke Montgomery and Joshua Padilla, giving Ohio State the top three in-state offensive line prospects in the class.
Austin Siereveld
- Size: 6-5/317
- Position: IOL
- School: Lakota East (Liberty Township, Ohio)
- 247 Composite: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: #15 IOL
- Overall Rank: #298
How He Became A Buckeye
In late October 2021, Siereveld held just two Division I offers from Ohio and Toledo. Michigan State was the third team to offer the offensive lineman on Oct. 27. Once Ohio State gave him his "dream offer" on Oct. 30, his recruitment took off as he went on to receive offers from Alabama, Cincinnati, and Kentucky, among others.
Siereveld did not yet have a 247Sports composite ranking when the Buckeyes offered the in-state interior offensive lineman. But Kerry Coombs and Greg Studrawa – Siereveld's original two primary recruiters – liked what they saw, and Justin Frye quickly showed the Lakota East product he was still a top priority when he became Ohio State’s new offensive line coach in 2022.
“He tells me all the time that he wants to coach me and I want to play for someone like that,” Siereveld told Eleven Warriors of Frye in March 2022.
Following his visit to Columbus for Ohio State’s 2022 spring game, Siereveld was ready to commit to the Buckeyes – the team he always rooted for growing up – over Alabama and Notre Dame.
“It was just a dream school ever since I was a little kid,” Siereveld said of Ohio State. “When I got the offer, I wanted to hop on it right away. But I waited it out and made the right decision.”
High School Years
Playing in a run-heavy offensive scheme at Lakota East, Siereveld was able to showcase his physicality throughout his time in high school, where he played both tackle and guard. Siereveld used his 6-foot-5, 317-pound frame, paired with his power and quick hands, to frequently drive opposing defensive ends into the ground.
“(Ohio State) really likes my physical nature that I bring,” Siereveld said when he was first offered by the Buckeyes. “Also how I finish my blocks and my footwork.”
#OhioState OL target Austin Siereveld. pic.twitter.com/lNtJeNZ75W
— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) March 20, 2022
As a senior, Siereveld really showcased his versatility, as he was the Thunderhawks’ starting offensive tackle, defensive end *and* punter.
Linemen can kick too #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/buJZJgFoPY
— Austin Siereveld (@SiereveldAustin) August 20, 2022
“I like it a lot because it gives me more playing time and the opportunity to make plays on defense and offense and to help my team out,” he told Eleven Warriors of playing three different positions in high school.
Although Lakota East failed to qualify for the postseason in Siereveld's final high school season, the lineman earned first-team All-Ohio Division I honors.
Immediate Impact
Although he primarily played tackle at Lakota East, Siereveld will be either a guard or center for the Buckeyes. He began his Ohio State career practicing at left guard this spring as an early enrollee.
Siereveld's transition to the interior offensive line will require a learning curve as he transitions to the speed of the college game and continues to develop his body. With that, it wouldn't be surprising if he redshirts his freshman season, which would give him an extra year to develop and become more comfortable at guard before competing for more playing time in year two.
That said, Ohio State has an opening on the two-deep at guard following Ben Christman’s post-spring transfer to Kentucky, which opens the door for Siereveld to push for a spot on the second-string offensive line right away.
Long-Term Impact
Better Know A Buckeye
With Ohio State likely needing to replace both Donovan Jackson and Matt Jones with new starters at guard in 2024, Siereveld could have a legitimate shot to start as a sophomore.
Enokk Vimahi will be a prime candidate to start at guard next season if he returns for his sixth year of eligibility – and could even start this year if the Buckeyes need Jackson to play tackle or Jones to play center – but there are no other clear-cut candidates to be next in line at guard, giving Siereveld a real opportunity to put himself in position for early playing time.
Even if he proves to need more time to develop as he learns how to pass protect at the collegiate level, Siereveld has the tools to be a productive starter for Ohio State in his later years as a Buckeye.
Player Comparison: Michael Jordan
An offensive tackle as a high schooler, Jordan started at guard during his first two years at Ohio State before transitioning to center for his third and final season as a Buckeye. Although Siereveld isn’t in line to be an immediate-impact starter like Jordan was as a true freshman, he has the skill set to make a similar long-term impact on Ohio State’s interior offensive line whenever his chance to be a starter does come.
