By Patrick Weider
Offensive Line coach Justin Frye has left Ohio State for the Arizona Cardinals. It was not an entirely unexpected move because he had continued to face pressure from his lack of recruiting prowess. Now Ryan Day must replace his offensive line coach in addition to former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Below are some pros and cons of him leaving the Buckeyes and a few candidates who could get the job as well.
Pro: He could develop offensive lineman
My lasting thought on Justin Frye is how he was able to overcome the loss of starting left tackle Josh Simmons and starting center Seth McLaughlin. He was able to move left guard Donovan Jackson to left tackle and the offense never missed a beat. He also put Carson Hinzman in at center for McLaughlin and he played well. Without his coaching ability, Ohio State would not have gone on the amazing four-game College Football Playoffs run to win a National Title. He lost two offensive linemen and was able to develop multiple starters to help save the season. He also was able to develop left tackle Paris Johnson into a first-round offensive tackle in the 2023 NFL Draft. He also should be given credit for helping Josh Simmons develop into a consistent left tackle. He transferred in from San Diego State a few seasons ago and was playing his best football until a season-ending injury against Oregon. Frye is a good developer of offensive linemen and when Ohio State faced adversity this season they rose to the occasion to play great football.
Justin Frye did a remarkable job keeping the Ohio State offensive line together in really tough situations this past year. He's an excellent communicator and teacher of the position, its not a surprise he's sought after in the NFL.
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) February 1, 2025
Con: He never recruited at a high level
Frye was never able to recruit top offensive lineman prospects to Ohio State, especially at the tackle position. The program was facing a crisis next season at the offensive tackle position because of a lack of recruitment by Frye. Ohio State was able to land Ethan Onianwa and Phillip Daniels in the transfer portal at offensive tackle positions, but the lack of depth going forward is a concern. An example of this was David Sanders Jr. A 5-star offensive lineman in the 2024 class, he was down to Ohio State and Tennessee and ultimately chose the Volunteers. NIL might have played a role, but Frye was never able to recruit a 5-star offensive lineman. The last 5-star offensive tackle prospect to sign with Ohio State was Paris Johnson and that was 2020. Signing 5-stars is not everything, but Frye was never able to recruit enough elite offensive linemen to Ohio State. I think they would benefit from an offensive line coach who could recruit at an even higher level than Frye did.
Justin Frye's done a really nice job developing linemen like Josh Simmons—a San Diego State transfer who went from an afterthought into a first-round left tackle. And this year at Ohio State, he managed injuries to Simmons and center Seth McLaughlin.
Good hire for Arizona. https://t.co/UwRhSLbDse
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 1, 2025
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3 Names to consider for Offensive Line Coaching Position at Ohio State
1: Joe Rudolph – Notre Dame Offensive Line Coach
I have always admired Joe Rudolph, who played offensive line at Wisconsin and produced great offensive lines there. He has been at Notre Dame since 2023 and has helped them become one of the best offensive lines in the country in the last several years. He would be a great addition to the Buckeyes’ coaching staff. He also recently picked up a high 4-star commitment from Tyler Merrill. He has a long track record as an excellent recruiter.
2: Kevin Wilson – former Tulsa Head Coach
Kevin Wilson was on staff with Ryan Day and Ohio State as offensive coordinator until he took the Tulsa job in 2023. He was let go earlier this year and is currently available. He has not coached the offensive line since 2005, but I am sure he is more than capable of directing the position. The only concern is can he recruit at a high level.
3: Phil Trautwein – Penn State Offensive Line Coach
How about stealing Penn State’s offensive line coach Phil Trautwein after they stole Jim Knowles? Trautwein is a good offensive line coach and has done a nice job coaching Penn State’s offensive line. There is also a connection as Trautwein coached Ryan Day at Boston College as a graduate assistant. He also played at Florida under Urban Meyer. He’s a good recruiter who currently has 5-star offensive lineman Kevin Brown committed to Penn State.
