When Carson Hinzman looks around the practice field or the locker room at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center this offseason, it's almost like the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air gif of Will Smith standing in an empty room. While the offensive lineman isn't alone – he has a roster of teammates and coaches with him every day – Hinzman is one of only three players remaining from Ohio State's 2022 recruiting class.
Alongside Hinzman, defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and tight end Bennett Christian are returning for their fifth year with the Buckeyes. They’ve become the old men on the team.
"I know, we must suck," Hinzman joked when this was mentioned to him following the Scarlet and Gray's third spring practice.
Hinzman doesn't suck; quite the opposite. He has played in 40 games for Ohio State, starting 35. He has played multiple positions on the offensive line. Two seasons ago, he helped the Buckeyes win a national championship. Last year, he was named a first-team All-American.
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This offseason, Hinzman faced a decision. He could have joined classmates Sonny Styles and Caden Curry in the NFL Draft, but instead chose to return to Ohio State for a fifth season, wanting to stay part of the Buckeye Brotherhood and feeling he still had more to prove before moving on to the next level.
"There's a place called Original Pancake House, and I just love the Ashley's Waffle Dream there. I couldn't leave it," Hinzman said with a laugh. "No, I love the guys around here. I mean, there's very few and far between refined cultures that are this close, that are really good football players. And so I think to come back and continue to work on myself, work on the skills I have to try to better myself for this upcoming season, to hopefully get maybe a little higher spot in the potential draft this next year, Lord willing. And so to come back and continue to work on myself, work on what I can do for this team is important to me."
If Hinzman's career had gone differently, he might have made a different decision this offseason. However, he took an unconventional route to reach where he is now.
After redshirting as a true freshman in 2022, Hinzman won the starting center position for the 2023 season. That spot was only available because Luke Wypler unexpectedly declared early for the NFL Draft after just one season as a starter.
In just his second season of college football, after not playing any snaps the previous year, Hinzman was thrown into one of the most crucial roles on the offense, making checks as the anchor of the offensive line and snapping the ball to quarterback Kyle McCord on a team with national championship aspirations.
The Scarlet and Gray lost to Michigan at the end of 2023, ruining a potential undefeated season and preventing Ohio State from reaching the Big Ten Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. Between that loss and the Buckeyes' Cotton Bowl game against Missouri, Hinzman appeared on a podcast to share his thoughts on the Scarlet and Gray program. His comments did not sit well with those at the WHAC, as Hinzman, after playing 758 snaps at center, did not see the field in the loss to the Tigers.
Carson Hinzman is one of the Buckeye veterans this offseason. (Photo: Daniel Harker, 247Sports)
In the offseason that followed, Ohio State recruited former Alabama center Seth McLaughlin from the transfer portal to start. Hinzman struggled to get on the field during the first half of the 2024 season, serving as a backup at center and guard.
"I have more facial hair, and I have blonde hair. That's the big thing," Hinzman joked again when asked about the difference between that period and this offseason. "That and the game's slowed down a little bit. I mean, it'll still get you sometimes with coach (Ryan Day) having two NFL-caliber (offensive and defensive) coordinators right now. They'll get me on some stuff.
"I mean, I know coach (Matt) Patricia even today, I was like, I don't know why you're running this, it's just crazy stuff. But that only makes you better as a player because you've seen so much and being able to respond to so much. I mean, I feel really confident in my own ability, and I know the guys feel really confident in my ability to get us right."
Following a season-ending injury to left tackle Josh Simmons in the middle of the 2024 season, Hinzman returned as a starter on the offensive line, taking over at left guard as part of a reshuffle. He then moved back to center for the final two games of the regular season and the postseason after McLaughlin tore his Achilles.
After starting all of the 2025 season, Hinzman entered this offseason as one of the most experienced returning linemen in college football. That's valuable to have at any position, but especially at center.
"Just the experience," offensive lineman Luke Montgomery said of what it means to have Hinzman back for a fifth year. "He's really smart. He's very, very smart, and he's always in the books and in the film room watching film. He brings a lot of value to, obviously, our offensive line. So he's been great.
"He's one of my best friends. It means a lot for him to come back."
Hinzman's experience and leadership will be valuable for Ohio State this offseason. The Buckeyes have 51 new players on the roster this spring, a number that will increase by two when Dartmouth transfer Vasean Washington and freshman Tucker Smith join this summer.
Bringing together a record number of incoming and returning players is no easy task. The work will be divided among the players and coaches, with Hinzman being one of the prominent figures.
"This is kind of the first year we've really dipped in that portal as a whole team," Hinzman said. "I mean, you've only got about 50-50 coming back. But I think that's the way college football is looking. I think we've been doing a great job and I think the culture has been fitting everybody.
"I try to do the best I can, kind of getting around. Obviously, you want to start with your unit out. I think the guys we have this year are honestly great. They're a great fit. I don't think we've had really any problems with anyone who's come in, either a young guy or a transfer."
Hinzman's goal has been to ensure all the new players understand the standard set at Ohio State. He had to learn this himself as a young player, making some mistakes along the way, and now he wants to make sure these players meet that standard this season.
"I think the guys come in here, they know that. I think they know the heritage of being a Buckeye," Hinzman said. "I don't think they've looked at it as a scapegoat or cheap or something that's sweet. I think they've been coming in and putting their head down and working. So it's been cool to see that, how fast they've kind of conglomerated into the whole group."
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For his final college season, Hinzman, of course, wants to win. After becoming a national champion in 2024, Hinzman would love to finish his Buckeye career on top.
He also knows he's not a finished product and wants to keep improving before joining all his former Scarlet and Gray teammates in the NFL.
"There's stuff everywhere. I mean, you can always fine-tune everything. I mean, my footwork, being stronger in my core. I think working on my hamstrings, being able to pull away from the line quicker is gonna be really important. Be able to land punches and be firm at the point. And not just kind of walling with guys, but actually driving through people on the run game is gonna be important as well.
"There's a ton that comes with that, but at the end of the day, it just comes down to intent. Just continue to work on my intent, and not thinking or processing. Just going to play football."