Ohio State is turning to Luke Montgomery as it looks for improved play at guard in the College Football Playoff.
Ryan Day said Monday that he expects Montgomery to see playing time at guard in Ohio State’s first-round CFP game against Tennessee on Saturday, though he didn’t specify whether Montgomery will start the game.
Day said he expects Ohio State to rotate multiple players at guard with Tegra Tshabola and Austin Siereveld also in that mix. Tshabola has started every game at right guard this season while Siereveld has started four games at left guard, including each of Ohio State’s last two games after Carson Hinzman moved to center to replace Seth McLaughlin, who went down with a season-ending injury before the Indiana game.
“Luke Montgomery's got some reps at guard, so you're probably going to see him at guard some this game,” Day said. “We'll see how this week goes. But Austin will be rotating in there as well with Tegra. So that'll be the plan now. We still have a whole week of preparation and things can change, as of tomorrow, when we get on the field. But the plan right now would be to rotate those guys.”
Montgomery has been primarily practicing at left guard, Day said, though Day said Montgomery will also get reps at right guard this week.
Day said the Buckeyes felt like Montgomery deserved an opportunity to play against Tennessee based on the struggles the offensive line had against Michigan as Ohio State ran for fewer than three yards per carry in its 13-10 loss to its rival.
“After assessing the last game, we feel like Luke deserves an opportunity,” Day said. “And I don't know if it's that he's done that much more than maybe he's done in the past. But he was close anyways. And so now it's about time to give him an opportunity.”
Assuming Montgomery is in the rotation against the Volunteers, it will be the first time he has seen playing time with the first-team offense this season. He has played 77 snaps this season, but all of those snaps have come in backup duty.
Ohio State left tackle Donovan Jackson, who was the Buckeyes’ starting left guard before Josh Simmons went down with a season-ending injury during the Oregon game, said the Buckeyes have seen what they’ve been waiting to see from Montgomery leading up to the CFP and that they are confident he is ready to play a bigger role.
“I would say Luke's made a good step in his development,” Jackson said. “I feel like he's taking a step in the right direction where we were all kind of waiting for him to take that step. He's had a couple more reps available to him and he's taking advantage of it and he's done a great job so far in putting the best stuff he can on the practice field to give not just himself confidence but the guys on the line confidence.”
Ryan Day had said last week that Joshua Padilla was also garnering consideration to play a bigger role against Tennessee, but Day did not bring up Padilla when addressing potential offensive line changes on Monday, seemingly indicating that Hinzman will remain Ohio State’s starting center against the Volunteers.
