COLUMBUS — Austin Siereveld tried to get out in front of this move to right guard.
“In the spring, I told Coach (Tyler) Bowen that I hated it,” Siereveld said this week.
The Buckeyes left tackle starter from 2025 was hopeful to stay at that spot in 2026, but he also understood what was happening in the room. Tegra Tshabola, the starting right guard in 2024 and 2025, transferred to Kentucky. Ian Moore was an emerging young tackle for Ohio State. Siereveld is a guard by trade who saved the Buckeyes by playing tackle last season. However, all things being equal, it would probably be better for Siereveld to move back to his natural position.
Everything was pointing toward a move back to the interior for Siereveld as he entered his fourth season with the program. He wasn’t going to fight it too much, but he did try to plant that seed of doubt with his position coach back in the spring. It didn’t take. What started as a plan to at least get Siereveld some guard reps in the spring quickly turned into a plan to start him at guard by the summer.
In the end, the two-time captain was willing to do whatever would best serve winning. In doing so, he’s allowing the Buckeyes to create the type of middle-out offensive line identity that’s served the team well in the past.
“I was just so used to left tackle,” Siereveld said. “I thought I would be playing that again this year, but that’s obviously probably not gonna happen. But I don’t really care … Whatevet the team needs, I’ll play.”