Ed Puskas: Billy Price was right for OSU’s offensive line

Billy Price is one of those rare athletes who could almost pick where he wanted to play at Ohio State.

Well, not exactly. It’s not like Urban Meyer was going to let Price run the ball or return punts. At 6-foot-4 and 312 pounds, Price’s skills are better suited off the ball.

But that’s where Price was fortunate. The Buckeyes liked him on either side of the line. One way or another, he was in Meyer’s plans.

“Some schools wanted me as an offensive lineman and some wanted me as a defensive lineman,” Price said. “I was lucky at Ohio State, because I was going to have the opportunity to do either one.”

Price began on the defensive line when he got to Columbus. But barely a week into his first preseason camp in 2013, Fitch’s former two-way star realized something.

He saw himself more as an offensive lineman

“I personally went to Coach Meyer and asked if I could move to offense,” Price said. “I realized the offensive line was more of a fit for me.”

Some coaches might not have signed off on a change like that. But Price — big, fast and strong in ways that call to mind former Cardinal Mooney and Ohio State star John Simon — was not your typical true freshman. This was a kid who was going to help the Buckeyes wherever Meyer put him.

Price redshirted in 2013, but while he wasn’t on the field on Saturdays, he was opening eyes within the Buckeyes’ program. It wasn’t long before Price was setting records in the Buckeyes’ weight room. By this past August, Price was battling for a starting job on the offensive line and was the team’s strongest player.

Price began the season as Ohio State’s starting right guard. He played the first three games there, then he and sophomore Pat Elflein swapped positions before the Cincinnati game on Sept. 27. Price has been the Buckeyes’ starting left guard ever since. He figures to be there tonight when Ohio State (7-1, 4-0 Big Ten) visits Michigan State (7-1, 4-0) with conference supremecy and perhaps a playoff berth at stake.

Price, like Simon, wears No. 54. Both of them are impressive physical specimens who take up residence in the weight room when they’re not on the field. But as much as anything he’s done to get to this point in his college career, Price credits Warinner’s leadership during his redshirt season for making him the player he’s become.

It all started after Price convinced Meyer he should play offense.

“Once that happened and I got settled in, things got a lot easier,” he said. “I really started to learn a lot about our offense and why we do what we do.”

What the Buckeyes’ offense does is play the game at a much faster pace than most teams. Price loves it.

“I’m all for it,” he said. “That’s what we did at Fitch, when I played for Coach [Phil] Annarella. It’s the same kind of game plan we use at Ohio State. We want to be stronger, faster and in better shape so we can wear teams down.”

That’s just what the Buckeyes hope to do to the Spartans tonight.

Write Vindicator Sports Editor Ed Puskas at epuskas@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @EdPuskas_Vindy.