The Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Luke Montgomery had some motivating words for his group heading into 2027.
Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Luke Montgomery had some motivating words for the approach that his group has taken to this point in the offseason.
Before the start of the Memorial Golf Tournament this week, Montgomery got a word in with the media and was asked how the offensive line was responding to the end of last season.
Montgomery said, " We don't want to repeat history, in that matter, from last year. When adversity hits, you learn a lot about yourself, and we learned a lot about where we are at, and we have got to grow... for this upcoming season."
Looking back, it was the offense that cost the Buckeyes a chance at the National Championship. They didn't get good enough quarterback play, and they really didn't get good enough play from the guys up front.
The negative is that the Buckeyes have had to sit with that all offseason long. The positive is that they have their entire core group of players returning with one goal in mind: not repeating history.
Montgomery has been the anchor of the line since he heroically filled in for the Buckeyes during their playoff run two years ago. Then, last year, as a full-time starter, he continued his very solid play.
Phillip Daniels was a great addition at right tackle, Carson Hinzman was an anchor at the center position, and then Austin Siereveld was great at left tackle. The only major concern was at right guard, where there was a revolving door of players trying to solve the problem.
Together, the guys actually put together a really good season, until they played the top competition. Against Indiana in the Big Ten Championship, they were pushed around, and then against Miami, they never stood a chance.
Miami's grown men up front were a total problem for the Buckeyes, and the result proved that out.
As it stands right now, the Buckeyes are getting their last bit of summer in before it's time to get serious at the end of July and into August.
It's up to the Buckeyes up front to be the engine of their defense. Yes, they have Jeremiah Smith on the outside and Bo Jackson in the backfield, but none of that matters. What does matter is that the guys up front are up to the task this year.
The pain that they felt last year needs to be the fuel that propels them through the offseason. If channeled correctly, the Buckeyes' offensive line could be the reason that the Buckeyes make a run into the postseason.
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