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Justin Frye is entering his first season as the offensive line coach in Columbus. He previewed his unit in media comments Monday with some positive remarks entering the fall.
Things appear to be looking good under center for Ohio State. Frye had some nice words for projected starting center Luke Wypler.
Justin Frye said Ohio State center Luke Wypler can be "elite."
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) August 8, 2022
That’s a pretty direct statement from your position coach. Wypler, a New Jersey native, started all 13 games for the Buckeyes last season.
Asked about having a lot of intensity on the practice field, Frye said it's not a competition. He does point out that he's younger than Kevin Wilson, so he probably has a little more juice. "You can tell him I said that."
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) August 8, 2022
It sounds like Buckeyes fans should be optimistic about their offensive line. The numbers certainly show that the unit did a good job last season. Ohio State finished fourth in rushing offense in the B1G in 2021.
The Buckeyes ran for 2,234 yards (186.2 per game) on 5.5 yards per attempt. They also return stellar running back TreVeyon Henderson. Overall, the Buckeyes led the nation in both total offense (561.5 ypg) and scoring offense (45.7).
"I love this room." Justin Frye on Ohio State's offensive linemen.
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) August 8, 2022
Ohio State also has returning offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Johnson Jr. started all 13 games at right guard. He was named second-team all-B1G by conference coaches. Johnson is projected to play tackle for Ohio State this season.
All-in-all, things look to be ready upfront for Ohio State. The Buckeyes host Notre Dame in Columbus for the opener.