Sam’s Stance: Ohio State’s Must Keep Austin Siereveld Outside To Forge Its Best Offensive Line

While it’s no secret that Austin Siereveld emerged as one of Ohio State’s top linemen in 2025 after shifting from guard to left tackle, there has still been discussion about potentially moving the versatile lineman back inside.

With Ohio State’s right guard position still unsettled as rising junior Gabe VanSickle and rising senior Josh Padilla compete for the starting job, the Buckeyes have an open spot with the pieces in place up front — including Siereveld as a potential option at guard if they choose to move him.

Now, Ohio State must identify the best combination of five starters.

Head coach Ryan Day said on March 10 that Siereveld will primarily remain at tackle, and that should ultimately be where the conversation ends.

Siereveld has already proven capable at both guard and tackle. He spent his first two seasons in Columbus at guard, logging 495 snaps in 2024.

That experience also came in critical moments, as Siereveld stepped into a major role late in the season following injuries to Seth McLaughlin and Josh Simmons along the offensive line, helping the Buckeyes to a national championship run.

But while Siereveld’s versatility is valuable, it shouldn’t lead to unnecessary reshuffling.

Keeping Siereveld at tackle gives Ohio State its highest ceiling up front, as high-end tackle play is tougher  to find than elite interior performance.

Moving him back inside would create a ripple effect, forcing the Buckeyes to replace a proven tackle with a less experienced option while only marginally upgrading their interior line.

With Day announcing on April 6 that Siereveld and right tackle Phillip Daniels would miss the rest of spring practices and the spring game, Ohio State’s depth at offensive tackle would need to shine, particularly if the Buckeyes wanted any opportunity to reorganize its offensive line.

It was rising junior Ian Moore and rising sophomore Carter Lowe who stepped into starting roles in relief of the pair. Like Siereveld in 2024, Moore gained valuable experience during the 2025 College Football Playoff while filling in at left tackle. However, he struggled significantly against Miami’s talented defensive front that featured edge rushers Reuben Bain and Akheem Mesidor.

Although Moore responded with a strong spring camp overall, his performance in the spring game left room for improvement, as both he and Lowe faced difficulties against the Buckeyes’ top edge rushers, Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Beau Atkinson.

Meanwhile, the competition at right guard offered more encouragement that Ohio State could roll with Siereveld at tackle again. Padilla delivered a solid 2025 campaign while filling in for Tegra Tshabola, but was limited most of the spring with an injury. That opened the door for VanSickle — who saw increased reps down the stretch of Ohio State’s 2025 season and in the CFP — to build momentum with a strong spring and prove he’s capable of holding down the position.

Simply put, Ohio State has more viable options on the interior than it does at tackle, even if Moore continues to push for a starting role.

Ultimately, keeping Siereveld at tackle preserves stability at a premium position and gives Ohio State its best path to building an effective front five, while shifting the 6-5, 325-pound lineman inside would create unnecessary disruption and, in turn, weaken tackle play without a meaningful upgrade along the interior.