Prospect Profile: Ohio State C Billy Price

Billy Price Center | Ohio State | Redshirt Senior Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 305 pounds College Stats 2017: Started 14 of 14 games played; received the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s outstanding center; named the Big Ten’s Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year Career: Started 55 of 55 games played, setting a school record for starts and consecutive starts; two-time team captain; helped the Buckeyes rank ninth in the FBS in rushing in 2014, 11th in 2015 and 2016, and 17th in 2017 Combine Results Note: Price suffered a partially torn pectoral during the bench press and was unable to participate in any combine testing drills. Profile Summary: Price started all 15 games at guard – three at left; 12 at right – as a redshirt freshman in 2014, helping the Buckeyes to the Big Ten Championship. Price started 13 games at left guard as a sophomore and on the right side as a junior in 2016, earning Second-Team All-American honors by the Associated Press and other outlets. Price moved to center as a senior and was a unanimous All-American selection. He is one just six offensive linemen in Buckeyes history to receive a major national award, according to Ohio State’s website. He joins Jim Parker, John Hicks, Orlando Pace, LeCharles Bentley and Pat Elflein, who started 14 games for the Vikings as a rookie in 2017. For the first time in the history of the Rimington Trophy, the award was presented to an Ohio State lineman – Elflein in 2016 and Price in 2017 — in consecutive seasons. Price started in bowl wins over Alabama (2014 Sugar Bowl), Notre Dame (2015 Fiesta Bowl) and Southern Cal (2017 Cotton Bowl). He anchored an offensive line that helped Ohio State rank among the Top 20 rushing teams in FBS four consecutive years, and the Buckeyes led the Big Ten in rushing from 2015-17. According to NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein, Price has “tremendous explosiveness, strength and almost excessive initial charge.” “Price’s power and leverage give him a huge advantage over most centers in this draft,” Zierlein said. “He should be able to come into the league and deal with NFL power right away. However, his impatience as a blocker and tendency to charge in head-first will be used against him by savvy NFL opponents if he doesn't get it cleaned up. Price is an early starter with Pro Bowl potential.”Stacking up: NFL Media analysts Bucky Brooks and Mike Mayock listed Price as the fifth-best interior lineman in this year’s draft class before and after the combine. Daniel Jeremiah initially ranked Price at No. 30 overall in his list of Top 50 prospects, but he bumped Price down to No. 49 following the combine. Keeping perspective: While disappointed to be sidelined for combine drills after starting 55 consecutive games at Ohio State, Price told media members that he was still focused on ways to leave a positive impression at the combine. “There is a physical component to this, but there is the interview component to [the combine],” Price said. “It’s the irony of, I was supposed to come in and do very well at the physical drills. But to realize that there is still the interview process to this and understanding that football is a physical game, but you have to be a smart, intelligent and a good person going into these interviews. You have to be able to sell yourself, sell your brand and what you’re going to bring into an organization. “Now, it’s OK, let’s flip the script, be very positive about this. I’m not worried about this at all,” Price continued. “I’m going to come back stronger. You’re going to have really put a bullet between us Ohio State guys’ eyes to put us down. I’m looking forward to getting back out there. Whatever team [ends up] selecting me, we’re going to be 100 percent full ahead into it.”

News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Prospect Profile: Ohio State C Billy Price

Pelissero on Vikings' Offseason Moves, Kirk Cousins Moving Ahead on An Expiring Contract, How NFC North Shapes Up In 2023 and More

GMFB: What Are Your Expectations For Kirk Cousins and The Vikings In 2023?

O'Connell on His Strategic Approach To Annual Coaches Photo, How The Offense Can Evolve In 2023 and More

Mark Wilf on Early Takeaways From Annual Meetings, NFLPA Survey, Offseason Excitement and More

Rapoport on Vikings 'Really Impressive' Offseason, Kirk Cousins' Future In Minnesota, Expectations For 2023 Season and More

Adofo-Mensah on Keeping Team's Continuity Through Free Agency, Adding Versatile Players To The Roster and More

PFF Salary Cap Expert Brad Spielberger Breaks Down The Vikings Offseason Moves and Team's Outlook Moving Forward

Hanzus Explains Where Vikings Fit In Power Rankings Following First Wave of Free Agency