Ohio State Football: The sudden rise of Carson Hinzman

The Ohio State football team has the unenviable task of replacing three-fifths of their offensive line. The bigger issue is that they are replacing the three most important positions on that line. They have to replace both tackles and find a new center.

While the battle for the right tackle spot rages on, a front-runner for the starting center spot has emerged. That is Carson Hinzman. Hinzman has surprisingly had an excellent offseason and has taken first-team reps at the center position as a true sophomore.

Hinzman was one of the best players out of the state of Wisconsin in the 2022 class. The former four-star prospect has stepped up and looks like he could jump into the starting center role. It’s rare to get such a good lineman out of the state of Wisconsin because the Badgers usually get them all.

Coaches have liked the work that Hinzman has put in during the offseason. He’s gotten stronger, smarter, and has better footwork. We weren’t sure which position on the line Hinzman would play once he joined the Ohio State football program, but center seems to be where he’s best at.

I like Hinzman’s potential. What I want to see out of him and the rest of the offensive linemen is a mean streak in the running game. It’s been a few years since the offensive line could open up big holes for the running backs and push defensive linemen back on their heels.

It’ll be interesting to see how the rest of the offensive line shapes up. We’ll learn more in about a week when the Spring Game is played next Saturday. A new center and a new quarterback is certainly an interesting dynamic to bring to a team that has elite skill guys.