Ohio State football 2020 spring preview: Which offensive linemen fill out potentially elite unit?

Ohio State offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere celebrates after winning the Big Ten Championship game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 07, 2019.

Nicholas Petit-Frere (78) is one of the former reserves trying to establish himself alongside proven veterans on the Ohio State football offensive line in 2020.Getty Images

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Could Ohio State football’s offensive line lose two All-Big Ten Conference performers and still be even stronger in 2020?

The Buckeyes go into the spring with starting jobs at left guard and right tackle presumably up for grabs. They also have a three-year starter in Thayer Munford at left tackle, a rising pro prospect at center in Josh Myers and an All-American at right guard in Wyatt Davis.

Throw in three former top-30 prospects in the freshman and sophomore classes competing for snaps and it’s possible the Buckeyes — whose offensive line was a finalist for the 2019 Joe Moore Award — will be even stronger up front this fall.

OFFENSIVE LINE

POS.NAMEYRHTWT
GGavin CuppSr.6-4308
TThayer MunfordSr.6-6310
GWyatt DavisJr.6-4313
CJosh MyersJr.6-5310
GMatthew JonesSoph.6-4305
TNicholas Petit-FrereSoph.6-5295
TMax WraySoph.6-6300
G/CHarry MillerSoph.6-4310
TDawand JonesSoph.6-8360
TRyan JacobyR-Fr.6-5290
GEnokk VimahiR-Fr.6-4270
TParis Johnson Jr.Fr.6-6290
G/CLuke WyplerFr.6-3280
TTrey LerouxFr.6-8330

Seizing a moment: The Buckeye coaching staff insisted Petit-Frere almost won the right tackle job last August in camp. Instead, Branden Bowen ran away with the job. A lot of eyes will be on Petit-Frere this spring to see if the former five-star prospect establishes himself as an answer rather than merely another option.

And there are other options. Wray is another redshirt sophomore trying to make a move. Jones made a special teams impact last season as a true freshman, though he may need to drop additional weight to truly contend for a depth chart spot. Day did not rule out Johnson challenging for a starting spot right away, but said decisions on whether he could play either left or right are a few months off.

On guard: Once upon a time, Myers was a guard learning center to help Ohio State at a position of need. Now he’s a potential All-American candidate at center who provided some intrigue as to whether he might consider his NFL potential this offseason. He certainly appears locked in as the starting center for at least one more season.

So naturally that leads to speculation that his own former heir apparent, Miller, could slide over and take that left guard job. Miller was a five-star prospect, ranked No 30 overall and the No. 2 center in the 2019 class in the 247 Sports composite. He may work both positions this spring, laying the groundwork for the move while also providing stability at center.

Going deep: Munford admitted late last season that he never really played healthy in 2019. He underwent surgery in Jan. 2019 and had to be brought along slowly as the season began last fall. The most important thing to see from Munford this spring is ease of movement and maybe a more regular smile as he plays closer to full capacity.

Between Munford, Bowen and Joshua Alabi, Ohio State had reasonable confidence in its veteran depth at tackle. It will be leaning more heavily on youth in 2020. March and April should give a better idea which players have the confidence of the coaching staff right now.

A player such as Cupp — who was bumped aside when Jonah Jackson arrived last season — probably needs to make an assertive impression. Other younger linemen can show their development remains on track or is progressing, even if they are blocked for 2020.

SPRING PREVIEWS

• Quarterback: Justin Fields leads a group balancing production with promise

• Linebackers: In deep, veteran corps, who makes the next move?

• Tight ends: Providing stability, with the promise of more

• Defensive ends: Who leads the chase for the Buckeyes pass rush?


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