Pat Elflein didn't want to tell anybody about it. It's not in his nature. But when he couldn't do something he as simple as lifting light weights, he changed his mind.
"My right arm, I was holding like 20 pounds and this arm I couldn't even hold 2 pounds," Ohio State's starting center said Wednesday. "I was like, 'Something's wrong here.'"
Elflein said he took live reps with the entire first-team offense for the first time Wednesday since undergoing surgery to remove a cyst from his left shoulder in late May. Not one to take a day off or miss a workout, Elflein said getting back to work with his teammates in a live portion of practice "felt great."
"I've been doing a lot of drills. I got some reps today, full-go reps," he said.
It also closed the book on sort of an odd situation and injury. The cyst pinched a nerve, which prevented Elflein from being able to use his shoulder in its full capacity.
"My shoulder didn't hurt, I just couldn't use it. It was kind of confusing," Elflein said. "I was like what is wrong? I didn't feel like a certain yank or anything on it. It just wasn't working."
Elflein shifted to center this offseason following Jacoby Boren's exit, electing to return for one more year in Columbus even though three starters from the 2015's teams offensive line graduated. He is an integral part of what the Buckeyes plan to do on offense this fall, providing one-half of an essential battery with quarterback J.T. Barrett.
Urban Meyer said this spring the Buckeyes "probably would have no chance" to be good on offense if they didn't have those two players back in the fold. That's why it was so crucial for Ohio State to get Elflein back in the mix in its team portion of practice, particularly with its season opener against Bowling Green sitting 10 days away.
"I think we’re just bringing him along slowly," offensive line coach Greg Studrawa said Wednesday. "He’s been in the past couple days doing some things and you notice a little bit of solidification when he’s in there making the calls, a confidence kind of thing. That’s been really, really pleasant the last couple days and I think moving forward he’s going to take more reps and get back in there."
Elflein hasn't missed a day of practice and took part in all of the drills Ohio State allowed the media to watch earlier in camp. Studrawa showed concern for the depth of his unit both because of a knee injury sidelining Malcolm Pridgeon for the season and lack of experience due to youth. The group can ill afford to lose a linchpin like Elflein, a team captain set to start for his third straight season.
"That’s the anchor that solidifies those things," Studrawa said. "Everybody’s got a lot of confidence in him and I’m talking about those guys, not only us, but the players that are around him have confidence with him being in there."
Elflein has no doubt he will start against the Falcons Sept. 3. He continues to practice with a brace on his shoulder for extra support and as someone with more game experience than anyone on the offensive line, knows what full well what he needs to do to have himself game ready.
Especially now that he can use both of his arms like normal.
"I played center the past two or three years, always backup, taking reps," Elflein said. "I've been comfortable in that transition. It's going good. I feel comfortable in there."
