2020 Offensive Line Discussion

​

 

Ohio State could have one of the nation's best offenses once again in 2020, and the return of Thayer Munford, Josh Myers and Wyatt Davis up front is a big reason why. https://t.co/d8O6a9EM9t

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 3, 2020

 

Can Paris Johnson take over at right tackle for Ohio State next season?
The Buckeyes received some good news in the last two weeks when a trio of draft-eligible offensive linemen in Josh Myers, Wyatt Davis and Thayer Munford all confirmed their intention to return next season.

That group will go a long way toward preparing and developing Paris Johnson, the 5-star offensive tackle from Cincinnati Princeton and the country’s top-ranked offensive tackle in the 2020 class. Johnson enters the program with lofty expectations and an opportunity to assert himself as a team leader very early, a role he will need to take on alongside bookend tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere in 2021 and beyond.

Beyond Munford and Petit-Frere, there are few roadblocks that prevent Johnson from playing early and often for Ohio State. He’s enrolling early to take advantage of that chance and will go head-to-head with Petit-Frere to start at right tackle.

 

PARIS JOHNSON HEADLINES TRIO OF OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Ohio State has six total offensive line signees for the recruiting class of 2020, and half of those players are starting their Buckeye careers a semester early. Among the three midyear enrollees, at least two of them have a chance to potentially earn spots on the two-deep as true freshmen.

Paris Johnson Jr., the No. 7 overall prospect in the class of 2020, is a sure-fire candidate to climb the depth chart quickly. As a true freshman, he’ll most likely be a backup to either Thayer Munford at left tackle or Nicholas Petit-Frere at right tackle, but he’s already built like a collegiate offensive lineman and a tremendously gifted athlete for his size, giving him real potential to play right away if needed.

Luke Wypler, the No. 2 center in the class of 2020, is also a candidate to compete for a spot on the two-deep this spring – especially if either Harry Miller or Josh Myers slides over to left guard to replace Jonah Jackson in the starting lineup. That would open up the backup center job, and Wypler would likely be the frontrunner to fill that role – just like Miller did last year, and Wypler will have a semester’s head start.

Trey Leroux, the lowest-ranked prospect among the midyear enrollees, will likely need more time to develop before he’s ready for significant playing time. Arriving on campus a semester early, though, enables him to get an early start on that development while adding depth this spring for an offensive line that lost four scholarship players from this past season (Jackson, Branden Bowen, Joshua Alabi, Kevin Woidke).

 

How Will Ohio State Replace... Left Guard Jonah Jackson https://t.co/92G1kzlWpp via @TonyGerdeman

— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) January 11, 2020

 

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (17)
Returning Players: Thayer Munford (1,922), Wyatt Davis (1,164), Josh Myers (997), Nicholas Petit-Frere (312), Gavin Cupp (221), Harry Miller (181), Matthew Jones (114), Dawand Jones (90), Enokk Vimahi (62), Ryan Jacoby, Max Wray
Newcomers: Josh Fryar, Jakob James, Paris Johnson Jr., Trey Leroux, Grant Toutant, Luke Wypler

The Buckeyes’ 2020 offensive line got a huge boost when Munford, Myers and Davis all decided to return for another year instead of entering the NFL draft, giving Ohio State an excellent trio of experienced starters at left tackle, center and right guard.

Petit-Frere and Miller, who played the most snaps among non-starting offensive linemen this past season and were both five-star prospects in their respective recruiting classes, are the presumed frontrunners to join the three returning starters in the lineup next year, with Petit-Frere in line at right tackle and Miller a candidate to fill the vacancy at left guard.

Cupp, Matthew Jones and Vimahi are also all potential candidates to compete for the left guard job or provide depth at guard, while Dawand Jones could also be in the mix at right tackle after playing more than expected – forgoing a redshirt – as a true freshman.

Among the new freshmen, Johnson (at tackle) and Wypler (center) are the strongest candidates to compete for spots on the two-deep in their first year at Ohio State. Fryar, James, Leroux and Toutant are less likely to significant playing time as true freshmen, but with 17 scholarship offensive linemen currently on their roster, the Buckeyes go into 2020 with the strongest depth up front that they’ve had in years.

 

How will Ohio State replace one of their most consistent starters in 2020? https://t.co/cSDsFthIe4 via @TonyGerdeman

— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) January 26, 2020

 

Only a few short years after some uncertainty in the trenches, Greg Studrawa's superb recruiting has transformed the outlook for Ohio State's offensive line. https://t.co/068SBWeo5t

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 11, 2020

 

Cutting Down On Sacks Allowed Will Be a Focus for Ohio State's Offensive Line and Justin Fields in 2020 https://t.co/2n1mbX2GNY via @11W

— OSUBasketballJunkie (@ScarletBuckeye2) February 13, 2020

 

Five-star recruits Nicholas Petit-Frere and Harry Miller will be among those battling this spring to join Thayer Munford, Josh Myers and Wyatt Davis on Ohio State's offensive line. https://t.co/S0E7U3v6fD

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 22, 2020

 

There’s no Branden Bowen or Jonah Jackson this year. But Ohio State has three talented starters returning and a lot of others waiting to emerge this spring. FREE on @Bucknuts247https://t.co/NIopzs2nQN pic.twitter.com/Bfkq0ZVrwj

— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) February 26, 2020

 

Every returning Ohio State offensive lineman is now listed over 300 pounds.

Vimahi 263 -> 305
NPF 295 -> 305
Wray 300 -> 308
Jacoby 290 -> 310
Jones 305 -> 310
Myers 310 -> 312
Miller 305 -> 315
Munford 310 -> 315
Jones 360 -> 359

No changes for Davis (315) or Cupp (308).

— Colin Hass-Hill (@chasshill) February 25, 2020

 

RIGHT TACKLE
Ohio State has to replace Branden Bowen at right tackle, who was finally healthy and in a position to contribute in a big way during his senior season last year.

Bowen anchored the right side, and Day needs to plug someone in who can do the same in 2020. Nicholas Petit-Frere, the former 5-star stud who's been in the program two full seasons, enters spring practice as the favorite.

Petit-Frere backed Bowen up last season, and even started a game against Northwestern while left tackle Thayer Munford nursed a lower leg injury. But largely, Petit-Frere has spent most of his time learning and developing.

“As the season went on, I learned a lot from Bowen," Petit-Frere said. "I learned a lot from Thayer, Josh, all the tackles we have here, and then got better. So that's how I see this whole process, and I'm very glad to be a part of it. Whatever happened, whether I started or not, it's all about development and becoming a better player.”

What to watch for is whether a guy like Dawand Jones or incoming 5-star standout Paris Johnson Jr. can surge past Petite-Frere.

 

Competitive, critical battle at right tackle was just heating up for Buckeyes https://t.co/YVhxtOE5uW

— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) March 20, 2020