What Josh Myers’ NFL Draft decision means for Ohio State football: Buckeyes 2021 – cleveland.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football could not have asked for much more from at center than what Josh Myers provided the past two seasons.

Successfully making the transition from guard, Myers emerged as one of the Big Ten’s best centers. He also became an important voice on the team, serving as a team captain during a trying — and ultimately successful — 2020 season.

Myers declared for the 2021 NFL Draft on Friday night. His are large shoes to fill at an important position, especially since the Buckeyes will also be breaking in a first-time starting quarterback in 2021. Whoever throws the next pass for Ohio State will be throwing his first. The connection between Myers and Justin Fields helped stabilize the offense, and someone else must build that rapport.

Ohio State has established multiple options for a smooth transition at center.

• Melville, Musketeers and Eastern philosophy: Inside the mind of Harry Miller

Harry Miller seems the most immediate and obvious choice. He was recruited as a center. While he started at left guard most of this season, he shifted to center when Myers had to miss the Michigan State game due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Miller struggled a bit with his snaps in that game. On the other hand, Miller’s development in two years is impressive under the circumstances.

He was a summer arrival as a freshman, so he did not have the early spring enrollment in which to begin his development. Then his second spring was ended by the pandemic after one week. There may have been no starter more adversely affected by the week-to-week uncertainty and stops and starts of the discombobulated season.

Myers said he considered Miller’s development part of his responsibility. That tutelage could pay off for a player whose intellect should play well at center.

If the Buckeyes ultimately decide Miller makes more sense at guard long-term, Luke Wypler could also receive a look. The four-star prospect, ranked just outside the top 100 for the 2020 class, will only be a sophomore. Wypler, though, may still be a year away from making a starting-level impact.

Myers continued the impressive trend of Ohio State centers started by Billy Price and Pat Elflein. There may be a seamless transition to the next member of that tradition.

Get Ohio State Sugar Bowl champs & CFP gear: Check out shirts, hats and more merchandise commemorating Ohio State’s Sugar Bowl win over Clemson, as well as gear on the Buckeyes advancing to the College Football Playoff national championship game.