Pat Elflein remembers the moment it truly clicked for him. He had repped some at center his entire Ohio State football career but doing it consistently all while being the beacon of stability on the offensive line was a different animal entirely.
“I can remember the very first game against Bowling Green. I've always kind of been the backup but haven't taken many competitive snaps in the game at center,” Elflein said last week at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “I remember that game, my first full-time game at center where I played at a high level and I'm going to do this just like if I was at guard. That's when I kind of felt really comfortable and kind of got in my groove about playing center.”
Elflein turned that groove into an award-winning season. His photo now hangs on Ohio State's national award winner wall after he took home the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center. Elflein was the program's first national award winner since 2008. And he did that in only his first year starting at the position.
“there’s a lot more accountability on my behalf. Gotta be prepared for everything the defense is throwing at you. So make sure you’re watching film, picking up cues.”– Billy Price
Elflein is set to be an early-round NFL Draft pick next month. His successor is in line to be a four-year starter up front for the Buckeyes this fall, a fifth-year senior and second-year team captain. Billy Price is also moving from guard to center to snap to J.T. Barrett.
He has quite the precedent to live up to.
“You come to a special place like this and you don’t get to do things like this very often, to kind of be able to place your mark in history,” Price said on Thursday. “I can go put my name next to Pat’s up there. That one of many goals that’s going on now.”
Admittedly, though, there is much more on Price's plate with Elflein gone. Not only must he perfect the shotgun snap to kickstart Ohio State's offense, he has to stand tall when things go awry. The Buckeyes haven't put the pads on yet and have a week off for spring break. Upon the return, that's when the real work begins.
“Everybody misses football,” Price said. “So these first two days, everybody looks good, everybody’s fresh and come practice 13 we’ll see if it’s the same way.”
It has to be for Price. As the fifth-year senior and center, the big guys in Greg Studrawa's unit all turn to him. Even if there are four returning starters up front. He can't make mistakes.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a big adjustment, I’d just say there’s a lot more accountability on my behalf,” Price said. “Gotta be prepared for everything the defense is throwing at you. So make sure you’re watching film, picking up cues.”
Price is "thrilled" about the increase in tempo he saw in just two days of practice with new offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and quarterbacks coach Ryan Day. Wilson won games with lesser talent at Indiana with quick-moving and creative offenses. The Buckeyes got away from that the last two years.
Price is a major pillar in it coming back.
“There’s a lot of conversations with Coach Stud, Coach Wilson, Coach Day, being able to see all kinds of things that the defense is doing,” he said. “Right now, we’re only playing nine but come fall there will be a lot more put into it.”
Elflein said at the Combine the toughest difference between playing guard and center is the mental aspect, which Price alluded to also. Everything starts and stops with the snap of the football and the center's communication has to be on point with not only the rest of the offensive line but the quarterback.
“You have to portray your confidence throughout the line to kind of make everyone else feel confident. Having the ability to do that is huge, probably the toughest thing,” Elflein said. “Being able to portray that confidence throughout your linemates. Make them feel comfortable.
“Billy's going to do that, Billy's going to do exactly what I did and have all the accolades in the postseason.”
Price earned himself a tree in Buckeye Grove when the American Football Coaches Association named him a first-team All-American in December. Back-to-back Rimington Trophy winners from the same school is almost unheard of but Price has been preparing for this. Price said he practiced snapping during the season with Elflein and Brady Taylor, plus when Jacoby Boren led the Buckeyes as the man in the middle.
It might take until the first full-padded drill this spring, training camp or even the opening drive at Indiana before Price feels like a full-time center like Elflein. Time will tell but for now, it is his job to lead and ensure continuity as the senior member of the offensive line.
“Coach Mick’s been really hard on the older guys, myself particularly. Sometimes you just need realigned to and just get kind of shocked to get back into the system,” Price said. “There’s a lot of accountability on the older guys because if the head of your company, your business, the team is in correct nature, everyone else kind of lines up and the waste, the B.S. that’s below you kind of separates itself.”
