Ohio State Football: Offensive line set to dominate in 2018

With the number of talented offensive linemen on the Ohio State football team this year, the Slobs will be dominant once again.

When Earle Bruce returned to the Ohio State football program in 1966, he started out as the defensive backfield coach. After two years, he was tasked with coaching the interior part of the offensive line, a move that paved the way for success.

For four seasons, Bruce helped forge a unit that would block for Jim Otis, John Brockington and Rex Kern. Rufus Mayes, Dave Foley and Tom DeLeone all earned All-America honors during those four years.

When he replaced Woody Hayes as head coach, Bruce continued the pipeline of NFL grade offensive line talent coming through the Ohio State football program including Ken Fritz, Jim Lachey, William Roberts, Kirk Lowdermilk, Joe Staysniak and Jeff Uhlenhake.

Ohio State’s best teams are always anchored by elite offensive lines.

The 2014 team featured Taylor Decker and Pat Elflein who are starting in the NFL, and Billy Price who is about to become early round pick in next week’s draft.

Will 2018 be the same?

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There certainly is the potential for this year’s offensive line to be dominant. Despite losing Billy Price and Jamarco Jones to graduation, strong recruiting over the last two years has made this season’s version of the Slobs the deepest it has been since 2014.

Coming out of spring practices, three spots that are locked up are Thayer Munford at left tackle, Michael Jordan at left guard and Isaiah Prince at right tackle.

Brady Taylor heads into August as the favorite at center and Demetrius Knox and Branden Bowen will fight it out for the right guard spot.

If Taylor falters, true sophomore Josh Myers will be the center. Others in the two-deep includes Wyatt Davis, Joshua Alibi and Malcolm Pridgeon.

Coupled with the abundance of talent in the backfield and Zone 6, this depth is the reason why Buckeye Nation should not be worried about starting a new quarterback. Even in what amounts to a national championship or bust type season.

Offensive line coach Greg Studrawa took some heat his first season on the job and recovered last year.

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If this line dominates and leads the team to its second playoff championship, I guarantee Bruce will be smiling down from football heaven.