Ohio State Fall Practice Insider: Possible Quarterback Separation, Offensive Line Taking Shape

COLUMBUS — The Buckeyes ended the first week of fall camp with practice No. 4 on Sunday. The players will have Monday off as they move into a team hotel for the rest of fall camp.

Now through four practices, clearer pictures are emerging regarding certain position battles like quarterback and the offensive line. Fifth-year senior quarterback Will Howard has worked almost exclusively with the ones the past two days. Redshirt sophomore Devin Brown has been mostly with the twos.

Redshirt freshman Lincoln Kienholz was generally getting the third turn among the quarterbacks, but there was at least one session of 7-on-7 when freshman Julian Sayin went first and then last, allowing him more reps than any other quarterback in that particular drill.

Sayin expectedly had some ups and downs. During one session of 11-on-11, he threw a pick six to sophomore cornerback Jermaine Mathews, who jumped a slant route and returned it for a 20-yard touchdown or so. But then Sayin also hit sophomore receiver Brandon Inniss deep down the sideline for a touchdown to end one period.

Right now this still feels like Will Howard vs. Devin Brown, with Howard out in front.

The New Guard

The Buckeye offensive line continues to take shape, though there is still a competition going on at right guard. On Saturday, it was redshirt sophomore Carson Hinzman with the ones at right guard. Today, Hinzman and redshirt sophomore Tegra Tshabola both got time with the ones at right guard.

That competition now looks like a two-man battle as sophomore Luke Montgomery has been playing center almost exclusively now. So much so that Montgomery was even at center with the ones for a few snaps with Hinzman and center Seth McLaughlin playing guard on each side of him.

This was perhaps the first time McLaughlin has taken any snaps at guard this week. He is clearly the starting center at this point. McLaughlin has been very good in one-on-one drills as well.

The question now is whether Montgomery can play the position well enough to truly be the No. 2 center, as opposed to simply sliding Hinzman back over should something happen to McLaughlin.

Emptying The Notebook

+ There is still a question as to who the first offensive tackle off the bench would be should a starter leave the game. Redshirt junior Zen Michalski is the No. 2 left tackle and redshirt sophomore George Fitzpatrick is the No. 2 right tackle. The answer will likely come from one of those two players.

+ Devin Brown made a very nice deep throw down the left sideline while scrambling left but it was just out of receiver David Adolph’s reach. Brown did connect on a deep shot to redshirt junior Jayden Ballard. Brown lofted the ball up as quickly as he could and Ballard fought off redshirt freshman cornerback Calvin Simpson-Hunt, who tipped the ball but Ballard was still able to corral it for the big gain.

+ Redshirt sophomore defensive end Kenyatta Jackson was impressive during one-on-ones. He’s always been a talented speed rusher but is continually developing his overall skill set.

+ The running backs all had their moments today. Freshmen Sam Williams-Dixon and James Peoples continue to impress onlookers and coaches. People are feeling better about the depth situation but the numbers are still the numbers.

+ Calvin Simpson-Hunt intercepted Devin Brown on an overthrow over the middle of the field. There is no worse place to throw the ball high than the middle of the field.

+ If the ball is near Carnell Tate, he catches it. He has very strong hands and doesn’t get pushed around by corners.

+ Obligatory Jeremiah Smith mention for Google purposes. He didn’t do anything superhuman today that I saw — and that is okay. He was just the regular kind of human who is good enough to start at Ohio State as a true freshman.