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Ohio State Football: How Buckeyes will replace offensive line

By Frank Teriaca

Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Luke Wypler (53) against Minnesota Golden Gophers during their game at Huntington Bank Stadium at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN on September 2, 2021.Ceb Osu21min Kwr 77
Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Luke Wypler (53) against Minnesota Golden Gophers during their game at Huntington Bank Stadium at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN on September 2, 2021.Ceb Osu21min Kwr 77 /
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The Ohio State football team has lost its starting center. Luke Wypler has officially declared for the NFL Draft.

Luke Wypler, the two-year starter at center for the Ohio State football team, has declared for the NFL Draft. The redshirt sophomore will leave the Buckeye football program after being selected as a Third-Team All-Big Ten member by the media this past season.

Wypler has started every game at center for Ohio State over the past two years and currently sits as the top center in the 2023 NFL draft class according to ESPN’s Matt Miller. 

This follows the news that both starting tackles, Parris Johnson Jr. and Dewand Jones, won’t be back in Columbus next season. Losing Wypler will be a big loss for Ohio State as he helped C.J. Stroud call the protections over the past two seasons and with a new starting quarterback in 2023, pairing him with a new starter at center will make things more difficult on Ryan Day.

I’m not sure Ryan Day was expecting to lose Wypler after only three years in the program. He was a highly touted four-star recruit out of New Jersey, but I didn’t think he stood out as a top center in college football. Wypler must have liked what he heard back from NFL scouts before making a decision like this.

The Buckeyes did receive some welcomed news that right guard Matthew Jones will return for a sixth season of eligibility. With Jones coming back there’s a strong possibility that he slides over to center next season, thus lessening the burden on offensive line coach Justin Frye to develop a center who isn’t ready yet.

Ohio State will have to replace these players by giving unproven guys some time. Josh Fryar will likely get one of the tackle spots while Enokk Viamahi will likely slide in at the other guard spot. Donovan Jackson could kick out to left tackle or stay at guard. The other possibility is Carson Hinzman playing guard in the scenario Jackson kicks out.

Next. Former Buckeye corner lands at LSU. dark

There’s a lot that needs to be figured out from Justin Frye on the offensive line.

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