Corey Linsley | Center | Ohio State | 6'3" - 296 lbs.

 

OVERVIEW
The “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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I like what I just read.

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Yeah. Hated this pick until reading this. Wow. Sorry, but this seems like another good one.

Just the other side of things on this guy... Anyone remember Kenny Peterson? The strongest guy in Ohio State weight room history? Guy was a total bust at DT for us.

A little worried about this pick. "Struggles with quick guys" ...the NFL isn't the Big 10 with it's athletically limited guys. He's going to be facing guys like Fairley and Suh. That's a tough matchup for most excellent centers. Curious to see if this guy can hang with quick NFL'ers.

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Had no idea he was that strong. Holy crap! And nice blood on the face. Just missing the beard!

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I go about 170lbs right now. So stack three of me up and this guy can bench it.

If you don't like him you tell him.

I'll pass thank you very much.

This is the kind of late round OL that makes sense. Started at Ohio St. at 260lbs and got bigger and better every year so the upside is there.

For me I think any Big Ten Olineman that makes 1st Team All Conference should be worth at least a 7th round shot. The conference is a pipeline for OL to the NFL.

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I wonder how much bigger he can get if he's already added close to 40 pounds? Even if he doesn't get the nod at C they must see him as a backup at G where both Sitton and Lang are listed at 318 on the Packers website.

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Coach mentions he wants this guy purely considered to be a center for this team so we'll see

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Should be an interesting camp battle between him and Tretter for the starting gig.

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Wait, they actually drafted a C to play C?



Can we double check and make sure he didn't play LT at all for Ohio St.?

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