Ryan Day explains how Tegra Tshabola can solidify starting spot on Ohio State offensive line

Ryan Day is a big believer in offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola and the big man could solidify a starting spot for Ohio State in Fall camp.

The offense can only go as the offensive line goes for Ohio State. When you consider the weapons that are in place and the ones that came in, it’s on the line to keep the engine going.

Tshabola could be along the interior of the trenches.

“The first thing is you show that you know what you’re doing,” Day said. “You know, and that’s the first level of learning is do you know what you’re doing? I know that sounds simple but like you have to know your assignments and there’s a lot of preparation that goes with. I think he’s done that. 

“And the second thing is, you know how to do it. The technique, the calls, you know, there’s so much that comes with  how to do your job. And then can you do it consistently over time? Tegra has shown that he can do it. He’s shown that he knows what he’s doing. The big question is now after going through this preseason, he’s changed his body, he’s had a good offseason, (can he continue)?”

A junior, Tshabola played in all 13 games last season, earning his first varsity letter. He played special teams snaps in every game last year and had offensive snaps in five games with a high of 10 versus Western Kentucky.

Tshabola played in 17 games over the past few years with Ohio State.

“(Mickey Marotti, our Director of Football Sport Performance), does a great job of putting them in tough situations,” Day said of Tshabola and others. “You know, creating conflict amongst the team, you know, putting them in situations where when they get tired, they have to stay focused, because we know we’re going to wear teams down this year, win games in the fourth quarter. 

“And if that’s our goal, we have to be able to do that especially up front with the offensive line. If he can consistently show this preseason that he can do that, he’s going to find himself in games.”As a member of the Class of 2022, Tshabola was a four-star recruit out of West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 6 overall prospect in the state, the No. 8 interior offensive lineman in the class and the No. 114 overall prospect in the class.