Outside of who starts under center Week 1, the biggest question surrounding Ohio State entering the 2024 season is which players will fill three starting spots up for grabs on the offensive line.
At his press conference on Wednesday, Ryan Day said the Buckeyes may have a more clear picture of how the offensive line will be constructed by the end of the week, with both offensive tackle spots and a center vacancy still remaining.
Day highlighted Josh Fryar, Josh “Jimmy” Simmons, Tegra Tshabola and Luke Montgomery as players who have competed at a high level at offensive tackle. He said Zen Michalski and George Fitzpatrick are also being considered, but the previous four have established themselves as the frontrunners for the starting roles. He also said that quartet of tackles has interchanged working at left and right tackle over the last few practices.
“I mean, we always have to figure what the best five is and then where their best position will be," Day said. "We've had guys that have swung before, you guys know that. And for some guys, it's easier than others. Josh (Fryar) has been able to move back and forth pretty good, which really helps his value. Other guys, it’s a little bit harder. But all four of these guys are pretty athletic, they’re not too right-handed or left-handed. But we do want to get settled here by midweek, end of this week, so guys can settle into their positions. If we don’t make those decisions now, it’s going to be harder to make them down the road.”
The next few practices will be integral in determining who fits best where along the offensive line. OSU began practicing in full pads on Wednesday, which Day said is critical for the coaches’ evaluation process. He expects to have a more defined idea of several positions, offensive line among them, after Saturday’s scrimmage.
“Now it’s football,” Day said of full-padded practices. “Before it was just helmets and shoulder pads you were installing. You’re starting to learn about the whole thing.”
Day said OSU will evaluate the tackles based on their ability to hold up against Ohio State’s defensive ends in practice, their physical ability to execute run and pass blocks and their mental toughness.
Fryar has long been considered the favorite to start at left tackle this season. The 6-foot-6, 313-pound lineman worked at that spot for most of the spring and lined up there with the first team during OSU’s first practice of fall camp. But Day indicated Wednesday that Fryar might have the most positional flexibility of the linemen competing for a starting role. When asked if Fryar potentially could play right tackle to open the door for Montgomery to play left tackle, Day didn’t discount the notion but was quick to also heap praise on Simmons and Tshabola.
“Those are all the conversations we’re having now,” Day said. “I can tell you we’re very excited about Jimmy Simmons. He’s off to a great start. I think Luke Montgomery has a really bright future ahead of him. Tegra, there’s a lot of good things. Josh Fryar has done some good things. I can’t tell you one’s ahead of the other, what we’re trying to do is project out how this all shakes out down the road and what’s best in the long term. I think by this time next week, I’ll have real good answers for you. For now, this is all stuff we’re yelling at each other about in the meeting rooms.”
At center, Day said the competition has “heated up” primarily between sophomore Carson Hinzman and University of Louisana-Monroe transfer Victor Cutler Jr. While Jakob James is also in the mix, Day indicated that Hinzman and Cutler are the frontrunners for the starting job.
“I think this next week is going to be critical to figure out where they're at,” Day said. “Because now’s where you find out, when you’ll have bumps and bruises and you’re tired and the scheme is adding up, but who's going to now take the next step? I think it'll be clear, but we'll see. That's a pretty good battle right now.”
Day said Hizman continues to “get better every day” the more reps he takes in practice, while adding Cutler has come a long way since he began spring practice with the Buckeyes.
“I think he’s changed his body,” Day said referring to Cutler. “I think he understands what we’re trying to do now and the resources we have here. He’s a different-looking body than he was in the spring.”
