2024 Ohio State Freshman Class Report: Offensive Tackle Ian Moore

This is the first installment in a series where Buckeye Huddle looks back on each member of Ohio State’s 2024 signing class and the impact they had in their first season, as well as the impact they could have during the upcoming 2025 season. Up first is offensive tackle Ian Moore.

The Buckeyes signed offensive lineman Ian Moore out of New Palestine High School in New Palestine, Indiana. He was named the state’s Mr. Football Offensive Lineman as a senior and was a finalist for the state’s overall Mr. Football award. A First-Team All-State selection, Moore also played defense, posting 37 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks as a senior.

Ian Moore was a four-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class. He was ranked the No. 168 player in the nation and the No. 5 interior line prospect in the class overall per 247Sports. Moore chose Ohio State over offers from Florida State, Iowa, Miami, Boston College, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee, and others.

2024 Season

Like most Ohio State offensive linemen, Ian Moore was able to redshirt as a true freshman. He played in four games last season, including the playoff win against Tennessee. Despite the lack of playing time, Moore had an adventurous true freshman season.

Moore was installed as a right tackle for the Buckeyes where he worked on the third team for the most part. Most true freshmen can be eased into things, especially on the offensive line. That’s what was happening for Moore as well, at least until his linemates started going down with injuries.

Starting left tackle Josh Simmons was lost for the season in October, followed by backup Zen Michalski one week later. Even though Moore was at right tackle, the reality of the situation was that he needed to be ready to play. He grew from the reps and experience and by the end of the season was the No. 2 right tackle as a true freshman.

So Now What For Ian Moore?

All four Buckeyes who started games at offensive tackle last season are gone, either to the NFL or the transfer portal. Offensive line coach Justin Frye is also off to the NFL, but he did bring in a pair of transfer tackles before he left. New offensive line coach Tyler Bowen will now be tasked with putting together a depth chart that makes sense.

Ian Moore may have practiced more at tackle last year than anybody returning on the Ohio State roster, so he is going to be in a position to compete for a meaningful role this year. Rice transfer Ethan Onianwa has been brought in to be the guy at left tackle. Phillip Daniels started a handful of games at right tackle at the end of the season last year as a redshirt freshman at Minnesota.

If there are no position moves for guards Tegra Tshabola, Austin Siereveld, or Luke Montgomery, then Ian Moore will not just be competing for a role this year, he’ll be competing for a starting job. He may not be the favorite to win the job at right tackle, but that’s not going to stop him from putting in the effort.

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