Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Joshua Padilla has been primarily a backup center over the past two seasons and is likely to be tabbed OSU's starter in the middle of the offensive trenches for the 2027 College Football season.
For now, as Bucknuts' Patrick Murphy notes, Padilla will be in contention to start at right guard this coming season, with Gabe VanSickle acting as his primary competition. RG was the only position along the offensive line to lose talent this offseason.
"In 2024, Austin Siereveld played both left and right guard, even switching sides during a game, before moving to tackle in the offseason and then protecting Sayin's blindside in the fall. Day said Siereveld will "mostly be a tackle" in practice but acknowledged his versatility. Luke Montgomery, last year's starting left guard, is unlikely to change positions. Although Carson Hinzman did start at guard in 2024, he proved to be the Scarlet and Gray's best center last season. Some considered that Phillip Daniels could move from right tackle, where he started in his debut season for Ohio State in 2025, but Day said he has started spring practice at the same position, while noting guard could be 'worth a discussion,'" Murphy wrote.
"Beyond the returning starters, Padilla and Gabe VanSickle received meaningful snaps at guard last season and will both compete to start this offseason. While VanSickle will likely remain at guard, Padilla can also play center and is probably in line to start there after Hinzman leaves next year."
Ohio State hoping there's addition by subtraction without Tegra Tshabola
With so many pieces returning to the room, there's confidence in Columbus that development under new offensive line-minded play-caller Arthur Smith is the necessary ingredient to truly make this unit click. With that said, any discussion about the OL has to revolve around what's been lost in the room.
Tegra Tshabola's absence could be the key to the running back room thriving. While Brian Hartline was merely using the run to set up the pass, and Bo Jackson and Co. had to take what was given, Tshabola certainly didn't help the team's RB room last year. PFF graded him as the No. 81 out of 99 eligible Big Ten guards. Eventually, he was put in a snap-share rotation with VanSickle before injury kept him out of the CFP.
While he brought a good attitude to the locker room, Tshabola wasn't the answer at RG. With Ryan Day and Tyler Bowen giving everyone in the offensive trenches the chance to prove themselves, we'll see if Padilla or VanSickle proves to be.
It sounds like Padilla will have an alternative pathway to playing time at center this year and next if VanSickle wins this spring as expected.