Ohio State's front five may be very unsettled in fall camp, just weeks before the 2026 season begins. That's the way cleveland.com's Stefan Krajisnik sees it, anyway. If Krajisnik is correct, that is very bad news for OL coach Tyler Bowen's ideal plan for the 2026 season.
Krajisnik believes Joshua Padilla is playing so well at the right guard spot that he may force Austin Siereveld back to the left tackle spot, leaving Ian Moore, who was supposed to take the LT spot so Siereveld could slide inside, to battle Phillip Daniels for the starting job.
“I think Josh Padilla looked better than Ian Moore did, and I think that puts Josh Padilla in a spot to start at right guard and let Ian Moore battle Philip Daniels [at right tackle]," Krajisnik said.
There seem to be differing takes on Moore's performance. Krajisnik's colleague, Stephen Means, believes that Moore is a guaranteed starter, regardless of what happens on the right side of the offensive line.
“I genuinely think that we’ve reached the point where Ian Moore being what they think he is unlocks the best version of their offensive line regardless of what it means for what’s happening on the right side," Means said.
Where does that leave the line?
Is Ian Moore proving himself or not?
There are day-to-day narrative swings when it comes to whether or not Moore is grabbing the brass ring. Even in one newsroom, there are disagreements about whether or not Moore has locked down a starting spot.
By any stretch, Moore not panning out would be a major disappointment. Talk all offseason surrounding the IOL was Siereveld's return to his natural position. If Siereveld has to reprise the blindside role from last season, his own NFL draft stock may hang in the balance.
Moore needs to be the glue for this group. While he can play multiple positions all over the line, he came to Columbus with the most experience at left tackle. It finally needs to happen there for Moore in year three.
Joshua Padilla is hopefully giving the Buckeyes a good problem
Any talk of Padilla outplaying Moore is hopefully just a sign that the former is simply dominating the interior trenches, and not a sign that Moore can't handle the athleticism of elite edge-rushers.
Luke Montgomery isn't being moved from the left guard spot. Carson Hinzman is locked in as the starting center. There's no universe where Siereveld isn't starting. Padilla forcing himself into plans is a good thing if that's actually what's going on. If Moore is just in over his head, this group will have to make quick adjustments, since Moore at LT and Siereveld at RG was the working plan for the majority of the offseason.
Assuming it's the best-case scenario, and Padilla is truly just standing out, then the Buckeyes have easily one of the deepest offensive lines in the country. If it's not that, then there are a number of defensive lines on the historically tough 2026 schedule that could expose this group for not being prepared with its best foot forward.
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