Transfer Boren to Provide Bruising Run Support

Justin Boren transferred from Michigan. By now we’ve all heard the story, fed up with a change in culture and attitude with the arrival of Rich Rodriguez in Ann Arbor, Boren did the unthinkable, he transferred to arch rival Ohio State, shunning years of history and rivalry.

By Eric Geier

Good for us? It’s hard to know how to take it in, had a Buckeye transferred to Michigan he wouldn’t be allowed to show his face in Columbus, he would have to go into Osama bin Laden-like hiding. But alas, Justin Boren is here and he is here to stay. The 6 foot 3, 315 pound lineman has gained a reputation among the coaching staff as a no-nonsense hard worker. He has to be to keep up with the rest of the o-line. At 6 foot 3, he is the smallest of Ohio State’s lineman, with a wide frame to match. Much like a bowling ball, Boren goes full steam ahead, crashing and toppling opponents to the ground, always in search of the next person to block. His approach to blocking is exactly what the Buckeye offensive line needs to push forward to that second level and open up holes for the backs.

As if Boren’s athleticism wasn’t enough to turn heads, the Pickerington native is bringing the swagger back to Columbus. Recently, ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg spoke with quarterback Terrelle Pryor. "He's nasty." Pryor said. "I like that. I don't know what it is. He's just going to fight for you all day and all game. I like that in Boren." Buckeye senior Jim Cordle added, “He's the strongest guy we've got on the team. You take a guy with the physical tools like that, and then he plays a little bit pissed off, which is kind of cool. It rubs off on everybody.”

The new attitude Justin Boren is bringing to the Buckeyes is a welcome change compared to the past couple of years, dealing with a sometimes-uninspired Alex Boone and a half-hearted offensive line. It’s possible that the Ohio State offensive line has found a new leader from one of the most unexpected places, Ann Arbor, Michigan.