This is the 11th installment in a series where Buckeye Huddle looks back on each member of Ohio State’s 2023 signing class and the impact they had as rookies, as well as the impact they could have during the upcoming 2024 season. Up next is offensive lineman Austin Siereveld.
The Buckeyes went to the Cincinnati area to land Austin Siereveld, who was a First-Team All-State selection at Lakota East High School as a senior. He was a three-time All-Southwest District and All-Greater Miami Conference honoree as well.
Siereveld was ranked the No. 15 interior lineman nationally and the No. 300 player overall. The No. 8 player in the state of Ohio in the 2023 recruiting cycle, Siereveld signed with Ohio State over offers from Alabama, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee, Notre Dame, and others.
2023 Season
Austin Siereveld was one of four offensive line freshmen for Ohio State in 2023, and he was one of three who did not see any action. That’s not unusual for true freshmen on the offensive line at Ohio State. It is a developmental position that doesn’t typically lend itself to too much playing time for rookies.
Even though Siereveld spent his time at tackle in high school, the plan from head coach Ryan Day and offensive line coach Justin Frye was to start him out at guard.
“Austin Siereveld is going to start at guard for us,” Day said back on signing day a year ago. “A very big and strong and powerful guy. You can see when you get up on him the size of his legs. I think his family said that they can’t find him a pair of pants. So he either wears sweat pants or shorts. That’s how big his thighs are. But he’s very, very powerful and big inside and kind of that road grader you’re looking for at guard.”
When the media was permitted to observe practice last year, Siereveld spent most of his time with the third-team.
So Now What For Austin Siereveld?
The Buckeyes are looking for a replacement for starting right guard Matt Jones, so the job will need to be filled by somebody. There are, however, more experienced options than Austin Siereveld. And there is the possibility that Ohio State will once again look to the transfer portal following spring practice.
A good and realistic step for Siereveld this year will be to work his way into the mix as one of the four guards on the two-deep. If he can win a backup job, that will get him on the field in the fourth quarters of blowout games. It would provide the kind of experience that sets up well for the 2025 season when there could be two jobs open at the guard position.
Special teams will also be in the mix this season now that the redshirt is no longer being protected. It is typical for offensive linemen to have to develop for a couple of years before finally being ready to compete for a sizable role. The next step for Austin Siereveld is to simply continue moving forward and progressing in a positive manner. At this point, there is no reason to think that won’t happen here.
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Safety Malik Hartford
Receiver Brandon Inniss
Safety Jayden Bonsu
Offensive Tackle Luke Montgomery
Defensive End Joshua Mickens
Tight End Jelani Thurman
Defensive Tackle Will Smith, Jr.
Cornerback Calvin Simpson-Hunt
Quarterback Lincoln Kienholz
Linebacker Nigel Glover
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