Ohio State Football: The Biggest question leading into Spring practices

The Ohio State football team has many questions that need answering before spring ball. Here is the biggest question of them all.

The Ohio State football team is having some transition this offseason. Gone is offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, who has been in Columbus for six years in that role. Gone is Heisman finalist quarterback C.J. Stroud. The Buckeyes have some major question marks at roles that will have big implications for the program.

Brian Hartline’s transition into the offensive coordinator role is on that list. How will the quarterback situation between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown shake out? How will Jim Knowles, Perry Eliano, and Tim Walton get this secondary playing at a higher level? But there’s one question that will have the biggest impact above the rest.

Who will be playing left tackle for the Ohio State football team in 2023?

The open left tackle position is the biggest question mark heading into Spring practices simply because the Buckeyes don’t have a clear-cut player to step into that role. Josh Fryar is assumed to be the favorite at right tackle. He started one game last season against Indiana at right tackle and played very well. Could he be the left tackle? Sure, but it’s believed that he’s more suited for the right side.

The next man up is believed to be Zen Michalski, who was the No. 306-rated player in the 2021 recruiting class. Michalski was a late add to the class because then offensive line coach Greg Studrawa swung and missed at a few top 100 players. Michalski has only played 79 total snaps in his two seasons at Ohio State.

The Buckeyes added Victor Cutler from the transfer portal earlier this week. He started last season at left tackle for Louisiana-Monroe, but he’s believed to have come to Ohio State to compete at guard and center.

Incoming true freshman Luke Montgomery is expected to be the left tackle of the future for the Scarlet and Grey but to ask a first-year player to step in and start right away to protect a new quarterback’s blindside is a tall order to ask from any player.

I believe the answer will either be Michalski, who would need a strong spring in order to win the job, or someone who enters the spring transfer portal window. But currently, how the roster is constructed, the biggest question heading into Spring practices lies at the left tackle position.