Ohio State football makes adjustments to the starting offensive line lineup for the Cotton Bowl matchup against Missouri.
In a noteworthy but somewhat anticipated move, Ohio State football adjusted its starting lineup for the Cotton Bowl game against Missouri. During warmups with the No. 1 offense, Matt Jones transitioned from right guard to center, while Enokk Vimahi, another senior, assumed the now-open right guard position.
Matt Jones had an opportunity to showcase his skills when he played a series of snaps in place of starting center Carson Hinzman during the Michigan State game, the third-to-last match of the regular season. Despite Hinzman starting all 12 regular-season games and not being listed as injured on Friday night, the coaching staff opted for the change in the starting lineup.
Jones, originally from Erasmus High School in Brooklyn, New York, entered college football as the top-ranked center in the 247Sports composite for the 2018 class. Although he primarily played at the center position in only two games, he consistently practiced in that role and served as the de facto backup for the past three seasons, all while holding down the starting role at right guard.
Matt Jones is currently in his second season as the starting right guard, following his role in 2021 as the sixth offensive lineman, where he subbed in at various positions. The decision to allocate more playing time at center could potentially elevate his standing for the upcoming NFL Draft in April 2024.
