Nick McLarty wasn't hard to notice at Ohio State's practice on Thursday.
That is meant figuratively due to his punting power, but also literally as he towers above the rest of the Buckeyes' punters – and most of their players in general – at 6-foot-7.
Ohio States preseason punting competition between Nick McLarty (19), Anthony Venneri (35) and Joe McGuire (42) commenced today. pic.twitter.com/L3mGMj0OWb
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 1, 2024
The Australian arrived at Ohio State this summer from Melbourne, Australia, where he played Aussie Rules Football and trained at Caulfield Grammar & Punt Factory. He's competing this fall to start at punter alongside Buffalo transfer Anthony Venneri and Joe McGuire, a Buckeye walk-on and fellow Australian.
Venneri stands 6 feet tall while McGuire is 6-2, so seeing McLarty working out alongside them was quite the sight at the Buckeyes' first fall camp practice. His position battle with both of them will continue throughout August.
"That's going to be a battle that goes into probably the third week to see if they can win the job," Ryan Day said at Big Ten Media Days. "We've got three or four guys in there that are going to be in the mix. (McLarty's) got a big leg. He's young. So we'll kind of see. We've got another guy with some experience (Venneri) coming in."
