Corey Linsley | Center | Ohio State | 6'3" - 296 lbs.
OVERVIEWThe “perfect center,” words that Linsley thought that he would never hear from his head coach two years ago when he Urban Meyer informed his seldom used backup offensive guard/tackle that he had to prepare for manning the pivot upon the graduation of three-year starter Michael Brewster.
Hailed by the trainers for his incredible strength, all that Linsley had to show during his first three seasons in the program was sporadic play, mostly in a mop-up role in 26 of the team’s first 39 games that he was at the university. Having arrived as a local area product, a lanky 260-pound offensive guard, the last two seasons has seen a remarkable transformation of the Buckeye who was recognized as the best center in the Big Ten Conference with a first-team selection by the league’s coaches his senior year.
With the confidence of then new head coach Urban Meyer behind him, the Youngstown, Ohio, native rediscovered a passion for the game and, most importantly, the belief he was capable of competing at the collegiate level. Prior to being named an All-Big Ten first-team pick as a senior, he received league honorable mention for his hard work during his first season in the pivot as a junior. "Linsley's gone from nobody to the apex of the offense." —Urban Meyer
“Coach Meyer knows I work hard and I’m committed to this program,” Linsley said. “It means a lot he has confidence in me. I might screw up a lot, everybody makes mistakes, but his confidence keeps me coming back for the next play. I know I still need to get better, especially when I’m tired. But now I know when I’m up and ready to go I can be a total football player. I’m faster and stronger. I can see now all my hard work has paid off.”
What separates Linsley from most men in the middle is his raw power. A daily sight is seeing the center regularly bench pressing at least 500 pounds in the weight room. Strength is the key element to his game, especially having to play in the spread offense that often had the opponent’s nose guard and middle linebacker lined up over his head.
The Youngstown, Ohio, native’s strength, and the strength of his fellow offensive linemen, helped the 2012 Buckeye offense to a Big Ten-best 37.2 points per game and to 242 rushing yards per game (second in the Big Ten and 10th nationally).
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