State Football: Carson Hinzman’s Redemptive Journey

The offensive lineman had a challenging 2024 season but will now enter 2025 as the starting center. His journey has been full of ups and downs.

Carson Hinzman, an offensive lineman for the Ohio State Buckeyes, played during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium.

The Ohio State football team had a tumultuous start to the season, frequently adjusting their offensive line to find the right mix. They struggled to find a suitable fit at guard, and the most surprising part was that Carson Hinzman wasn’t part of the starting offensive line.

Despite having started every game in 2023 at center, a position he hadn’t been recruited to play, Hinzman found himself on the bench. It seemed odd that he wasn’t even placed at guard, which was his natural position. Perhaps it had something to do with being benched for the Cotton Bowl after a podcast appearance. As a result, three other guards were chosen ahead of him.

Eventually, Hinzman got the chance to start at guard after Josh Simmons went down with an injury. He performed well, as expected. Then, when Seth McLaughlin was injured, Hinzman was moved back to center. His journey went from starting to being benched, back to starting at guard, and then back to starting center. It has certainly been an unpredictable journey.