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Austin Siereveld starts at left guard in place of injured Donovan Jackson versus Akron

IMG_7408by:Andy Backstrom•08/31/24•

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Austin Siereveld by Matt Parker -- Lettermen Row --
Ohio State offensive lineman Austin Siereveld walks onto the practice field during training camp. (Matt Parker/Lettermen Row)

Ohio State redshirt freshman offensive lineman Austin Siereveld made his first career start Saturday against Akron. Siereveld got the nod at left guard in place of an injured Donovan Jackson for the season opener at Ohio Stadium.

The specifics of Jackson’s injury have yet to be announced, but Lettermen Row sources indicate the setback isn’t long term for the senior.

Jackson, a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2023 and now a three-year starter, came back for 2024 with a chance to improve his NFL Draft stock and help the Buckeyes’ O-Line return to a high level of play.

As for his replacement, Siereveld has received shoutouts from head coach Ryan Day throughout August. Day noted the second-year lineman’s emergence during training camp, where Siereveld has both backed up Jackson and gotten his fair share of snaps with the first-team offense.

While the Buckeyes dealt with a “funky virus” that swept through the offensive line room early in August, a few players up front had to double dip. Siereveld was one of them, according to Day. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Liberty Township, Ohio, native played both guard — his primary position since joining the Buckeyes from Lakota East High School — and tackle.

Day said last week that Siereveld was “in there battling his tail off.”

This week, in Day’s final appearance with the local media at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, he fielded a question about Siereveld’s progression in his second summer with the program.

“I think he’s an example of somebody who had an opportunity and really stepped into that opportunity and took it and ran,” Day said. “It wasn’t easy early on, I think the first week as he made that transition, being forced into a role with the ‘ones’ and blocking Ty Hamilton and Tyleik [Williams] and some of our guys up front. But he made that adjustment quickly, and he kind of got thrown into the fire. And, because of that, he became a better player for it.

“That’s an example for our entire staff. Some of these guys, we’ve got to build depth. We’ve got to get them in the game and allow them to play. Austin’s an example of that.”

Siereveld was the No. 17 interior O-Line prospect in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

Siereveld was a first-team All-Ohio and All-Southwest District pick. Siereveld’s other top schools were Notre Dame and Alabama. Ohio State, though, was on him early and persisted, even after Siereveld’s primary recruiters — offensive line coach Greg Studrawa and defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs — were fired after the 2021 season. Siereveld had a strong first spring and made a good impression running as the third-team right guard, even earning some second-team reps.

While he didn’t play during the 2023 season, Siereveld continued his development this offseason, kicked off this year’s spring game as the second-team left guard and then rose to the occasion for first-team opportunities in training camp.

Now, Siereveld’s making his first career start, filling in for seasoned veteran Donovan Jackson.

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