After 2023 challenges, Ohio State football's Josh Simmons settles in at left tackle

Put yourself in Josh Simmons’ shoes last year.

You transfer from an under-the-radar San Diego State program in your hometown to an elite one across the country.

You arrive at Ohio State in May, so you don’t have the benefit of spring practice. You must learn the playbook and develop chemistry with your new linemates in the summer and preseason camp.

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You switch from the right tackle spot you played as a freshman to left tackle, thrust into protecting the blind side of new starting quarterback Kyle McCord.

When things don’t go smoothly for you or the offensive line early, you face the wrath of a rabid fan base.

“It was kind of,” Simmons said, pausing briefly, “not the best.”

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It’s one thing to anticipate jumping into a pressure cooker. It’s another to experience it.

“This is Ohio State,” Simmons said. “A lot of people (consider) this the best program in the country. I knew I was going to get that. It was up to me. I took it like, 'Josh, you've got to lock in and figure it out.’ ”

Simmons did. His play in the second half of last season was significantly better.

A year after committing 17 penalties at SDSU, the most nationally among offensive line, Simmons cut that more than half as a Buckeye. And of his eight penalties, only one came in the final five games.

According to Pro Football Focus, Simmons allowed only one sack – against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl – and four quarterback hits all season.

Simmons said the biggest challenge last year was switching sides on the line.

“You think it’s kind of like just flip your mindset, but there’s a whole lot else that goes into it,” he said. “I think toward the back end, I started to figure it out.”

He knew he had no choice.

“Physically, you’ve got to be ready,” Simmons said, “but mentally, that’s where you’ve got to start tightening up. You play those Notre Dame and Penn State games, and you realize a penalty can literally destroy the whole game.”

He said he leaned on his linemates to help him get settled.

“I started to realize that these are brothers,” Simmons said. “These aren’t (only) teammates. I started dialing in and really honing in on my craft.”

Left guard Donovan Jackson was particularly helpful.

“I owe Donny a lot,” Simmons said. “He’s an amazing player. He gives me insight on just about everything.”

Seth McLaughlin, a graduate transfer center from Alabama, can identify a bit with what Simmons experienced last year. But McLaughlin has more experience, played at an elite program and is in Columbus for spring practice.

He marvels that Simmons managed as well as he did last year.

“That's a testament to his work ethic,” McLaughlin said. “There is a lot to gain from having spring ball and not really having the pressure of, ‘Oh, I have to game plan for a game in a few weeks.’

“Now we can really polish techniques and dive into what (offensive line) coach (Justin) Frye is coaching on each of the techniques and figuring out how to apply those tools.”

With the whirlwind that was 2023 behind him, Simmons said he feels more comfortable this spring.

Jackson said at the start of spring practice that Simmons is much better at studying video and answering questions in the meeting room.

“I think the game slowing down for him,” Frye said. “Those mistakes that may have showed up or the questions that he had through fall (camp) and as we got going through the season are starting to erase a little bit, which is good.”

Frye said Simmons’ communication with his linemates has improved.

“That’s probably the biggest thing I’ve seen from him,” Frye said. “Volume and communication equals confidence, and so he’s playing much more confidently now.”

Physical talent has never been an issue for Simmons. He’s 6 feet 5 and 310 pounds and blessed with strength and agility.

“He's a freak athlete,” McLaughlin said. “He's a tremendous athlete, one of the best athletes on the offensive line I've seen throughout my career.”

Now it’s a matter of putting it all together. Simmons left the comfort of San Diego to push himself to be the best player he could be. The hardest part should be over.

“When I came here, I knew coach Frye and the staff were going to sculpt me into a player,” Simmons said. “The development from coach Fry I’m getting, it’s like magic almost. I’m going to keep riding with it.”

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State left tackle Simmons ready to be 'sculpted' into stardom