Story by
Tegra Tshabola to start at right guard for Ohio State football in opener against Akron
- Story by
- Tegra Tshabola to start at right guard for Ohio State football in opener against Akron
Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Tuesday that Tegra Tshabola will start at right guard when the Buckeyes open their season against Akron later this week.
Tshabola, a redshirt sophomore from West Chester Township, had been competing with Carson Hinzman , another third-year lineman who started at center last year.
Advertisement
"He's had a good preseason," Day said. "He's done a nice job. We'll continue to assess it all the way up into the game time, but he's earned the right to start."
Aug 22, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State University football offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola speaks during the Ohio State football team media availability on August 22, 2024 at the Woody Hayes Athletic Facility.
The position battle had already seemed to be tilting in Tshabola's direction last week when Day mentioned that he had "earned the opportunity" to at least play in Saturday's opener.
Right guard was the lone starting spot vacated from last season as Matt Jones' eligibility expired following six years with the Buckeyes . Day added that the Buckeyes would rotate a handful of linemen at the spot against the Zips.
Advertisement
"I think we're going to see us playing multiple guys on the offensive line in this game," Day said.
While Hinzman started at center last fall until the Cotton Bowl , the arrival of Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin left him to vie with Tshabola at guard. McLaughlin had made 24 starts at center with the Crimson Tide since 2021 as he anchored their line.
But Hinzman missed time early in preseason training camp, allowing Tshabola to get first-reps at right guard and appearing to gain an edge in the competition.
Day said Tshabola has been steady since practices began on Aug. 1.
"He's been consistent," Day said. "Now he's got to put it on the field and play."
Advertisement
Tshabola also offers significant size along the offensive line at 6 feet 6 and 327 pounds, according to the Buckeyes' listing.
He was large enough that he began playing tackle after he enrolled at Ohio State in 2022 as a four-star recruit and competed with Josh Simmons to start on the left side last August.
That has given the Buckeyes more strength in the interior.
"Tegra's a big, powerful dude," McLaughlin said. "When he's moving, he's a big man moving. He's got a lot of weight and a lot power behind him."
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @joeyrkaufman or email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com .
Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football to start Tegra Tshabola at right guard vs Akron
