Buckeyes Meet With Media Following Spring Practice #13
4/15/2026 11:32:00 AM | Football
How are things coming along with the new offensive coordinator this spring
It’s been cool. He brings a mentality to the run game, it’s hard to put it into words, you know what I mean? It’s almost like a tangible violence that he kind of wants to put in the run game.
When asked how the new offensive coordinator communicates the style of play he wants
It’s just a consistent, and very effortful and violent dude when he comes out with his play calls. I think him being confident in what we do allows us to play fast and play violent because he always expresses how violent he wants us to play.
What gets you to the top to play your best
Yeah, it’s confidence in yourself. It’s also like allowing the game to slow down for yourself, and a way to do that is to be on top of everything and, so I always tell you guys, how fast can we make our communication, so at the end of the play we can just go play football.
The energy he has felt these past couple of weeks
I think I am doing pretty well. I think when we started playing, moving a bit more, I got a little bit tired because it is different from playing four or five plays and then going to the 2s and 3s. But when we are out there and start moving, I think my diet and stuff have helped me a lot, so it has been a lot of fun.
How Luke works with Gabe to prepare for the fall
I think it goes back to when it clicks, it clicks. I can sit here and tell him how it went for me, but it could be completely different for him. I think trajectory-wise, he is playing a lot better than I did in my second year. I think Coach Bowen says it like Carter's got the best set to the spot on the team. He is really good in pass protection, and with that, it just becomes the mental aspect of wanting to do it, and he's getting there, and it's been a lot of fun to watch him grow.
Talking about finding the little areas he needs to improve
Everyone's got to nitpick little areas. I am just throwing out an example here, say like a hand carriage or like my knees tucked in a little too much, that gives a tell that I am running, or I am passing. Everyone has micro things, but you also have to learn how to play football.
If he feels like he's one of the best 5 in the room right now
I would like to think so, but I mean again, say someone makes a push in the summer, so I always like to think I should be out there, but you can't think you are the best, you've got to keep going out there and working.
What are they working on this spring
We have worked on our communication skills and getting in the right spots at all the right times, and fundamentally all around working on our playing.
Being the starting right guard this year
I’m just trying to get better every day and try to get better physically. In the weight room this winter I have been getting better and it’s just about getting confidence to play at the big level because this is the big leagues.
Learning from Luke
Just keep your head up all the time. Luke is a role model to me, when I came in freshman year, and I just looked at him and Donny and they’ve always held by me and taught me a lot of things.
How different do you feel this spring
I feel great, my body is healthy I feel a lot stronger and moving a lot better than I was last year.
Taking what he has learned into this coming season
You have to think football is like 90% mental and 10% what we do on the field. But you have to think about film and how you analyze it. You have to look at the coaching, and how hard they are coaching you because they are going to tell you the truth here regardless of how you feel or think about them they are going to let you know what you need to improve on and you have to get it done.
Year three for him
Yeah, I feel old, Its really like year four here for me but it feels great and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I made the right decision, I love being here, I love the fans and everybody that is tied to Ohio State so I would make this choice again.
His experience at Ohio State so far
It has been amazing, when I got up here I felt welcomed by the coaches, by the people, it has been great.
What attracted him to Ohio State
The past relationship I had with Coach Johnson coming out of high school, he is family to me, even though I didn't go to him at first. As soon as I hit the portal, he was the first guy to reach out to me, then I came here for a visit, and everything just worked out right.
How have you gotten better this spring
I feel like with Coach Mick and his program. I got a lot stronger and trying to work on my pass-rush moves a lot. So I feel like, I’ve definitely progressed in that. Working with John, James, and Eddrick and all them, I feel like we’ve been putting our minds together and it’s been helping us all a lot, so yeah.
If he thinks they’ll be okay despite the players they’ve lost
I feel like we might have lost a lot of players, but we also, we had a bunch of new players coming in and they’re ready and excited. So I feel like I’m excited for the season.
How he’s tried to impress the defensive coaches
I mean of course I want to show my role, and prove to them. I know they’ve seen a little bit, but I feel like I can do more and I feel like I’ve been proving it this spring. I’ve just got to keep it up.
Why he picked Ohio State
I’d say the culture, as it’s the reason why I picked here. I’m also from here and I've always been a Buckeye.
What gave you confidence coming in to year two
I think just knowing who I am. I think, not worrying about whatever other people have to say about me, because like God put me here for a reason. He had me go, and he had me go through every step of this plan for my life for a reason.
Where have you grown from last year
Yeah I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more mobile, and I’ve been putting a lot of work into that in the weight room. Coach Mick has been helping me get right a lot and I’ve been I’ve got a great, and extra work planned. So, I feel like all of that has been paying off, but also just being like more comfortable with the guys and like growing as a teammate as well.
Talking about how he’s worked on mobility
Sometimes last season, I just felt myself feeling a lot more stiff than I had felt in the previous seasons before that, so, just trying to really target where my weakness were last season and try to grow as much as I possibly can through each of those.
Is it hard to pick up nuances with the defense with Matt Patricia
Yeah there’sI think one of his biggest sayings is like, it’s hard for the offenses but it’s easy for us because we try to we try to keep it although it seems like so much we try to keep it simple in that, but it’s not, yet I like to think I’m a pretty smart guy and I can figure that stuff out.
On Beau growth
I think he’s done a 360 so far. I mean we haven’t played a game yet, but I think I like where he’s at, he’s much better, he’s much more flexible right now and we’d like for him to be. He is having a good spring right now
Zion and Epi grow
I think they have both grown in pass rushing and the physical part of the game and playing around really well. Zion has a really good day today, and Epi has some really great moments in practice as well. So, both of those guys are going to be a factor for us going forward.
Carter Lowe growing
The number one thing when you look at carter, I think it goes for all linemen coming in, as physically gifted as they are coming out of high school there’s a lot of physical development that goes into it. I think Carter is a good example he really came into his own probably week 7 or week 8 last year. He’s really got his body right, and started to getting stronger. You can always see the movement. He is an intelligent young man that’s starting to really understand the game as little bit bigger picture.
What traits does Austin have that allows him that flexibility
I think he has got some movement and skills right. I think you were able to see that last year with the role he had to step into. Austin provides length, he’s a guy that’s got long arms like when you think of it In the collegiate level he’s an above average length guy to play tackle which is going to help him on the interior.
