Ohio State freshman says the plan is for him to stay at tight end, at least for now.
Due to his size at 6-8, 265 pounds, many have assumed Ohio State true freshman tight end Reid Fragel will be an offensive tackle before long. He’s just going to keep getting stronger and could naturally fill out around 300 pounds.
However, Fragel thinks there are no plans to move him to tackle. At least not this year.
“We haven’t really talked about the tackle position coach-wise,” Fragel said. “A couple players on the team give me jokes about it every now and then, but I don’t see a change anytime soon. But if it happens, it happens and I’ll be all for it. Wherever I’m needed on the field, I’ll play.”
Fragel is a native of Grosse Point, Mich. (South High School) and picked OSU over Michigan State.
As a junior in 2007, Fragel had 24 receptions for 330 yards and three touchdowns. He also started at defensive end and recorded 65 tackles and five sacks.
Entering his senior season of 2008, Fragel broke his left thumb on the first day of pads and had to undergo surgery. He missed some game action and had to wear a cast upon his return. Fragel finished the season with just 16 receptions. However, he was still named to the Detroit Free Press’ Dream Team on defense (61 tackles, six for loss, four sacks, one interception). Fragel was a three-year starter at defensive end and a two-year starter at tight end.
Fragel was selected for the 2009 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl which was played in Myrtle Beach on Jan. 2. Fragel’s West team fell to the East, 29-3, but Fragel drew praise for the way he played. He finished with three receptions for 27 yards and also proved he was a very good blocker.
As for his brief time at Ohio State thus far, Fragel hasn’t been caught off guard by much of anything.
“I expected it to be hard work and this is a great program because it expects a lot of hard work,” he said. “The national championship is the goal and that’s obviously what we’re going for every year and it’s just great to be down here and finally be a part of everything and finally getting to workout and practice with the team and just be a part of the team.”
Like most any player, Fragel wants to see the field right away. With the possible exception of quarterbacks who know they are not going to play, you won’t find a freshman that says he wants to redshirt.
“Obviously, playing would be great for me,” Fragel said regarding his goals for this year. “Playing my first game at Ohio State against Navy would be awesome. Just coming down that tunnel for the first time will be something else for me and it’s something I’m looking forward to.”
Sounds like a young man that is confident he will see the field a little bit. And since the Buckeyes are a bit thin at tight end, he might be right.
Jake Ballard is the starter and is going to be a player that rarely leaves the field. Redshirt freshman Jake Stoneburner will likely be his backup and OSU also has redshirt freshman Nic DiLillo. (Fragel will likely battle DiLillo for the No. 3 TE job.)
If Fragel finishes camp as the No. 4 tight end and everyone at the position is healthy, he will likely redshirt. But in any other scenario, Fragel is bound to get some action right away for the Buckeyes.
