Notes and observations from opening of Ohio State football spring practice
Joey KaufmanOhio State opened spring practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Tuesday with the first 45 minutes of the practice open to reporters. Here is what we saw:
* Sonny Styles, who spent his first two seasons with the Buckeyes as a safety and started at multiple spots last fall, practiced with the linebackers during position drills. The staff has been weighing a switch for Styles, who has the size to move up from the secondary, listed at 6 feet, 4 inches, and 235 pounds, and could help to fill a position of need. Both of last season’s starting linebackers — Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg — have left for the NFL.
* When the first-team defense lined up for an early 11-on-11 period, the starting linebackers included Cody Simon in the middle and C.J. Hicks on the weakside. Other areas had more continuity with the exception of Alabama transfer Caleb Down at free safety, replacing the spot vacated by Josh Proctor.
* The first-team offensive line included sophomore Luke Montgomery at right guard following the departure of Matt Jones. The rest of the line remained intact with Carson Hinzman at center ahead of Seth McLaughlin, the former starting center at Alabama who transferred to Ohio State in January.
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* After a leg injury sidelined starting safety Lathan Ransom for the last two months of last season, he is available this spring. Ransom lined up with the first-team defense and went through drills. Kourt Williams, a fellow safety who had been moving to linebacker last year before injuring an anterior cruciate ligament, was not available.
* Devin Brown, the most experienced returning quarterback and who started the Cotton Bowl following Kyle McCord's transfer to Syracuse, led the rotation of passers during drills that included ball security and swing passes. Brown was followed by Lincoln Kienholz or Will Howard, the transfer from Kansas State. Freshmen Julian Sayin and Air Noland followed.
* Placekicker Austin Snyder also punted during a special teams period, following Joe McGuire and Hadi Jawad, a newly added walk-on from Wayne State.
* Ross Bjork, the incoming athletic director who is spending his first three months in an advisory role for the department, watched practice with Gene Smith.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch and can be reached at jkaufman@dispatch.com.