Nov. 16, 2017
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Less than a week after becoming Ohio State’s all-time leader in consecutive starts, already graduated center Billy Price added another line to his resume on Thursday evening: Outland Trophy semifinalist.
The field for the Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the best interior lineman on offense or defense, will be reduced to three in the next week. Those finalists will be announced at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 21. The current group of semifinalists consists of five offensive linemen and one defensive tackle.
Price, from Austintown, has been the anchor behind an offensive line that spearheads a Buckeye offense currently ranked fifth in scoring (44.2 points per game), third in total offense (546.5 yards per game) and leads the nation with 281 first downs. On the ground, Price has paved the way for a rushing attack that is ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 16 nationally (245.3 yards per game).
A four-year starter along the line and All-American in 2016 at right guard, Price established a new school record with 51 straight starts last Saturday in a 48-3 win over Michigan State that was highlighted by 335 yards rushing by the Ohio State offense. Price has already been named a Midseason All-American by the Associated Press as well as a Senior CLASS Award finalist.
Price and 18 other seniors will play their final game inside Ohio Stadium on Saturday when the Buckeyes host Illinois at 3:30 p.m. ABC will televise.
