Scarlet and Game
Fansided

Ohio State Spring Preview: Center and Left Tackle

By Thomas Scurlock

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches the action during the second half of the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches the action during the second half of the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 2
Next
LINCOLN, NE – OCTOBER 14: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches player warm up before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – OCTOBER 14: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches player warm up before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

Center

For the last two seasons, Meyer has been forced to transition a guard into a center.  It worked at well as Elflein and Price were back-to-back Rimington Trophy winners, but Meyer may not have that luxury this year.

Here are the contenders:

Brady Taylor

This will be Taylor’s fifth year in the program.  If he were able to play at a high-level, I have to think Price would have remained a guard in 2017.

His best asset is he knows the offense well and might gel with whoever wins the quarterback spot.

More from Scarlet and Game

Matthew Burrell

This is Burrell’s fourth year in the program and like Taylor, has been a career backup. Normally I would say this is okay, especially for offensive linemen where it takes time to develop, but Jordan, Bowen and Demetrius Knox all surpassed him.

Wyatt Davis

This is a complete wildcard considering Davis just reshirted, but depth a guard and lack of depth at center could provide an opportunity for him to see the field.

Davis was the No. 1 ranked guard in the 2017 recruiting class. Getting him playing time seems imperative.

I doubt Studrawa would hand over the keys to a freshman, but if it worked, left tackle and center are set for three years. That’s a gamble worth considering if Davis is close to Taylor and Burrell.

Next: Urban Meyer’s Zone 6 wish-list filled

Winner:

Taylor, but the leash will be short.

Home/Ohio State Football