Ohio State is in the market for a second new assistant coach this offseason.
Offensive line coach Justin Frye became the second departure from the Buckeyes' 2024 national championship coaching staff on Saturday, joining defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, when he accepted an offer to become the OL coach for the Arizona Cardinals.
A jump to the NFL makes sense for Frye, who did a phenomenal job developing an injury-plagued Ohio State front five to a national-title-caliber unit in 2024. Frye had been criticized by Buckeye fans for recruiting misses during his three years in Columbus, but in the professional ranks, he can focus exclusively on development and scheme.
In his wake, Oho State has intriguing internal and external options to replace him, though at this point it's all speculative. Still, Eleven Warriors' Dan Hope and Andy Anders see a lot of candidates out there that would make sense. Former Tulsa head coach Kevin Wilson coached for the Buckeyes from 2017 through 2022 and has worked extensively with offensive lines throughout his career, plus he'd be another ready-made offensive coordinator if Chip Kelly takes an NFL job.
LeCharles Bentley, a former Buckeye center and Rimington Trophy winner, is a senior adviser of player performance and development in the NFL and is well-connected in the offensive line coaching industry, though he hasn't held a college coaching position previously. Notre Dame's Joe Rudolph, Penn State’s Phil Trautwein and Tennessee's Glen Elarbee could be options to look into within the college ranks, while quality control coach Tim Drevno could be a candidate for an internal promotion.
We discuss Frye's move and our thoughts on potential replacements on a new episode of Press Coverage, which you can watch at the top of the page.
