Carson Hinzman leaving Wisconsin to be a Buckeye
When offensive lineman Carson Hinzman committed to Ohio State over Wisconsin last month, the decision reverberated throughout his home state.
Playing in a high school boys’ basketball game in the town of Prescott a week later, he met an opposing student section decked out in Badgers apparel. Its Wisconsin-themed night was a reminder of Hinzman turning down the in-state program, a sight that left him a little amused.
“If they care about me that much to do that,” Hinzman said, “that’s kind of funny,”.
Hinzman, a four-star prospect from Hammond, is taking a rare step in leaving the state. When he signs with Ohio State on Wednesday’s National Signing Day, he’ll become the first high school player from Wisconsin to sign with the Buckeyes in the modern recruiting era. Along with four-star defensive end Omari Abor, he’s one of two unsigned commits officially joining the fold for the Buckeyes on Wednesday.
His path to Columbus was laid during a visit last summer. Touring a handful of schools across the Midwest, including Iowa, Notre Dame and Wisconsin, the trip to Ohio State stood out.
“I just connected with the players really well,” Hinzman said, “and I really loved the people, and how get-after-it they are. Their expectations are so high, which I really love. They play at that level, and they’re capable of doing that. That’s the kind of people I want to play for.”
For as long as Hinzman leaned in favor of the Buckeyes and settled on his decision last month, there was the potential for a late snag in his recruitment.
Coach Ryan Day decided not to retain offensive line coach Greg Studrawa two days after Hinzman announced his commitment.
Hinzman learned about Studrawa’s departure during a practice ahead of the All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
“But I didn’t commit for a coach,” Hinzman said. “I committed for the people in the program, and the best fans in the land, things that. Him leaving obviously sucked because I knew him really well, and I really want to be coached by him. But that’s the name of the game. It’s all business. And I trusted coach Day’s judgment.”
Day didn’t leave him waiting long for his position coach to be in place, hiring UCLA offensive line coach Justin Frye to replace Studrawa days later.
Hinzman said he “couldn’t be happier” with the move and met Frye last month when his family hosted him for a visit at their home.
They chatted over a breakfast of donuts they picked up from nearby Spring Valley Bakery.
“It was really good meeting him, seeing what he’s bringing to the table, and how much of a cohesion he’s had with coach Day,” Hinzman said. “I think he’s really going to bring something special and something a little different to the Ohio State culture.”
Hinzman pointed to Frye’s age as a benefit. With him being 38, Frye is only a decade and a half removed from his own playing career at Indiana.
During last month’s visit, Frye was especially hands-on in his coaching. They got up from the table, and Frye walked Hinzman through a drill to show him a specific technique.
“He can attack learning in so many different ways,” Hinzman said.
Hinzman, who is 6 feet 4 and 280 pounds, is poised to end up as an interior offensive lineman for the Buckeyes.
He lined up at both center and guard at St. Croix Central High School and opened up his share of running lanes in the Panthers’ triple-option offense.
“We run smash-mouth football, and we’ve run it for a really long time,” Hinzman said. “Especially in those winter months when that ball turns into a rock, you can’t really throw it anymore. So we just keep pounding it up the middle.”
In the latter years of his high school career, Hinzman was more often at guard as the Panthers took advantage of his athleticism that had been sharpened on the basketball court.
Hinzman was quick enough to pull from one side of the offensive line to the other and block in space.
“I don’t like gloating or anything, Hinzman said, “but I am a more athletic lineman. I’m not really one of the bigger guys. Not yet anyway. I like to get on a run and pull. Stuff like that. I have a lot to work on with size, strength, hand placement, hand speed. But playing basketball for a really long time, I feel my feet are really toned in. I feel that’ll help with Coach Frye’s vision of being able to pull and different things on the ball.”
Hinzman will be the fourth offensive lineman in the Buckeyes’ 2022 class, but the only one who is projected as an interior lineman.
Fellow four-stars George Fitzpatrick and Tegra Tshabola are offensive tackles, as is three-star Avery Henry.
According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, Hinzman is the No. 9 interior lineman in the nation.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter @joeyrkaufman.