The Ohio State football team had to play musical chairs with the offensive line last season. After a myriad of injuries occurred with the Buckeyes, they had to make some major changes. Once Josh Simmons and Seth McLaughlin went down, the offensive line had to be reconfigured for the CFP run.
Carson Hinzman came into the season expecting to start at guard, a position that he was recruited to play out of high school. He had an up-and-down freshman season as the starting center that ended with him being benched in the Cotton Bowl for appearing on a podcast. Then, he was on the bench for most of last year.
Hinzman came in at guard for a few games when Simmons went down, and then transitioned to center once McLaughlin got hurt. He helped stabilize the offensive line and helped the Ohio State Buckeyes win a national title. This year, he's got a shot at ultimate redemption.
Ohio State football player Carson Hinzman named to Rimington watchlist
Heading into the 2025 season, Hinzman has been named to the Rimington watchlist, which is the award for the best center in the country. McLaughlin won the award last year, despite tearing his Achilles late in the year. Hinzman has a shot to help the Buckeyes go back-to-back with this award.
If Hinzman were to win the award, it would be the ultimate redemption arc for him. It's clear that he should have been a starting guard last season ahead of Tegra Tshabola, and he is coming in motivated to show the college football world that he deserves to be a starting lineman.
The Buckeyes are expecting to have a good offensive line after how they finished last season up front. Hinzman is the clear starting center this year and will have a lot of responsibility while helping a first-time starting quarterback. Julian Sayin is going to rely on him to call out blitzes and pass coverages, and he's going to be ready.