Offensive Line | Run Game Coordinator Justin Frye

Great 7:30 am start to the day with Ohio state in the building! E-town is different with recruiting! @CoachJFrye@EHSKnightsFB pic.twitter.com/fobGZxMWyw

— Barrett Davis (@barrettdavis4) December 8, 2022

 

Thanks @CoachJFrye & @OhioStateFB for stopping in checking on our guys!! 🟦🟩🦾 pic.twitter.com/5upMao6QMt

— Winton Woods HS Football (@Winton_WoodsFB) January 18, 2023

 

JUSTIN FRYE
Ohio State’s offensive line coach was very coy when asked about what his starting offensive line would look like if OSU had a game immediately, as he simply said “five guys.” Frye also gave updates on the progress of the unit in general.

• On Matt Jones, Frye said he made a decision to return so he could come back, get another year better and “be ready” for the next level. He said he liked where Jones’ mindset was at heading into the bowl game.
• Frye said the uncertainty around starting positions on the offensive line makes the unit the “hungriest” on the team, so he’s excited to see who steps up. Frye said his linemen are excited and all “hungry” and all “want to be coached.”
• On being promoted to run game coordinator, Frye said deflected from himself and complimented OSU’s offensive staff with the likes of Hartline, Alford, Dennis, etc. He emphasized that there’s zero issues with ego on the coaching staff, but said the offensive line is probably excited about it because the run game plan will be seen through the offensive lines’ eyes.

 

• Frye said Josh Fryar is embracing the role of “I’m now the next year guy, the veteran guy in the room now” in his preperation for competing for a starting tackle position. He said he’s been pleased with how Fryar has tried to take the next step in training, how hard he goes in practice and technique selection.
• On Carson Hinzman, Frye said he’s impressed with how competitive he’s been in practice and that Carson is his own hardest critic. “He’s in extra film study all the time, he wants to be really good that way. He’s a high-level talent that’s just figuring out how to play at 296-pounds.”
• Frye said you “can’t timestamp” finding starters on the offensive line, saying “the expectation for these guys right now is you have to embrace the practice.” He stressed it’s only practice four of the spring and OSU has time to find a starting group.
• Asked about offensive line recruiting specifically and if it will help sell OSU to prospects when Paris Johnson likely gets drafted in the first round next month, Frye said “You come to Ohio State to be a first-round pick, we offer kids to come to Ohio State to be the best version of themselves.”
• On Tegra Tshabola, Frye said he’s “happy with what he’s doing and unhappy about two or three” plays he did in Thursday’s practice because he didn’t block the right defender. But Frye said Tshabola’s attitude is great and he has a passion for being the best version of himself.

 

• Frye said Ohio State is "still in the middle" of discovering who the Buckeyes' five best offensive linemen are for the 2023 season. He feels comfortable with Jackson and Jones as his two starters at guard, but would like to see the players at left tackle, right tackle and center continue to improve as camp moves on. "We'll get to (naming starters) soon. It's been good looks, good competition. See who's good left, who's good right."
• Like how Ryan Day speaks about Ohio State's quarterback competition, Frye said the competition at left tackle, right tackle and center will be determined by who is the most consistent player day in and day out. "It's about consistency. You have to stack good days on top of good days. ... You have to be able to go out there and play the games."
• On Jimmy Simmons, Frye said, "He is a more mature guy. ... He's been in the locker room. He's been in college football games." Frye added that Simmons has bought into the offensive line room and has "bought into the culture" since he arrived on campus in the summer.
• Frye said Day, Joe Philbin, Mike Sollenne and many other Ohio State coaches have helped evaluate the Buckeyes' offensive linemen since the start of preseason camp: "We are evaluating and grading every snap of every guy... so when we go to Indiana, we are playing the five best guys."
• Frye hopes that the competitions at left tackle, right tackle and center will end sooner rather than later. "You don't want to drag it all the way out," he said. "We are getting closer to that. They'll know. We'll know. ... We will be targeted before (the Indiana game)."
• On Luke Montgomery, Frye said the true freshman tackle has developed well in his first offseason with the Buckeyes. However, he admitted that Montgomery has a challenge ahead of him if there were any chance for him to start in his first season: "I've been involved with college football – whether it was as a player, GA or a coach – since 2002, and I've had one day one true freshman starter up front. It's just hard. It doesn't mean it can't be done. It's just hard. But I've also had guys who have played as true freshman. If they're ready, they're ready."
• Frye said Donovan Jackson has been "more comfortable in a vocal position" this offseason. He added that Jackson has been an extension of the coaching staff, so to speak, in that he can ask Jackson to be the middle-man between the coaching staff and the players. "I can go to Donny and say, 'Hey, get this fixed. This happened, here's what it is, that's your job because I'm not kick-slanting next to you.'" Frye said he has tremendous confidence that Jackson can be a leader of the unit and the team.